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April 23, 2008

Happy St. George's Day!!

I damn near forgot!
And this is cheerful news, especially if it signals a trend...

...April 23 is St. George's Day, England's national day. But it's not a public holiday, and for decades it passed largely unnoticed — a far cry from its rowdy Irish counterpart, St. Patrick's Day.

...That may be changing — St. George's Day is experiencing a revival, as is the idea of Englishness itself.

Outside the realm of sport, English patriotism and the St. George flag long were shunned by liberal-minded Britons, regarded as the preserve of right-wing "Little Englanders" steeped in nostalgia and a mistrust of foreigners. Politicians promoted the notion of Britishness — an amalgamated identity open to native and foreign-born citizens, and to English, Welsh and Scottish alike.


Who doesn't love a dragon-slayer?

Posted by tree hugging sister at April 23, 2008 07:49 PM

Comments

"Who doesn't love a dragon-slayer?"

PETA?

Posted by: Tainted Bill at April 24, 2008 09:01 AM

The horse doesn't seem too thrilled. "What the- a DRAGON? We're fighting a damn DRAGON? Nobody told me this! WTF, George?"

Posted by: nightfly at April 24, 2008 10:08 AM

"Shut up and KICK, nag!"

Posted by: tree hugging sister at April 24, 2008 10:51 AM

Patriotism? How very un-British. They could sip tea and politely clap, golf style, mayhaps?

Posted by: WordGirl at April 24, 2008 12:18 PM

I celebrated with last years cider vintage and
I'm suffering now!...some of us do make a fuss...and more every year.

Posted by: thud at April 24, 2008 05:18 PM