St George's Day

[thebish]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

[TANGODANCER]

Just for interest's sake only, and as a pointer at the English/ Scottish debate in another thread :

Another example of our Englishness is the flying of the Cross of St George, rather than the national Union Flag ("jack" is just a mainly nautical term for the mast if flies from). Pre 1805 there was no blue diagonal cross on it, just white diagonals. (This was pointed out to me by a nautical historian when the manufacturers of my model ship (which became Cook's "Endeavour in" 1768, wrongly supplied me with a modern Union Flag which hadn't yet arrived at the time).

[boltonboris]

The bas*ards!!

[Gary the Enfield]

Just for interest's sake only, and as a pointer at the English/ Scottish debate in another thread :

Another example of our Englishness is the flying of the Cross of St George, rather than the national Union Flag ("jack" is just a mainly nautical term for the mast if flies from). Pre 1805 there was no blue diagonal cross on it, just white diagonals. (This was pointed out to me by a nautical historian when the manufacturers of my model ship (which became Cook's "Endeavour in" 1768, wrongly supplied me with a modern Union Flag which hadn't yet arrived at the time).

Isn't that the flag of Great Britain, rather than England, though?

[Prufrock]

Just for interest's sake only, and as a pointer at the English/ Scottish debate in another thread :

Another example of our Englishness is the flying of the Cross of St George, rather than the national Union Flag ("jack" is just a mainly nautical term for the mast if flies from). Pre 1805 there was no blue diagonal cross on it, just white diagonals. (This was pointed out to me by a nautical historian when the manufacturers of my model ship (which became Cook's "Endeavour in" 1768, wrongly supplied me with a modern Union Flag which hadn't yet arrived at the time).

I assume you mean the red diagonal cross? Which is the flag of St. Patrick?

I don't mind St. Georges day, as I said for Paddy's day, it's an excuse to get pissed, which is why I'd ban it even being on a Friday.

And Bobo, whilst accepting your general point about Welsh not being a proper language, Latin didn't have a read word for yes, and that was a proper language.

[Tank]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

Bollocks.

The main reason the English don't get behind St George's Day is because it isn't a national holiday. Us English love an excuse for a piss up just as much as the Jocks and the Irish, but when we all have to work, it puts a real dampner on the thing.

If it was made a public holiday, the streets of every town and city in this country would be covered with red and white, and the bars and pubs would make a wedge.

[Prufrock]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

Bollocks.

The main reason the English don't get behind St George's Day is because it isn't a national holiday. Us English love an excuse for a piss up just as much as the Jocks and the Irish, but when we all have to work, it puts a real dampner on the thing.

If it was made a public holiday, the streets of every town and city in this country would be covered with red and white, and the bars and pubs would make a wedge.

Bollocks.

If people actually cared that much they'd organise special outings for the closest weekend. Folk don't have Christmas Parties on Christmas Day. And yes, you have got exactly the idea of St Georges day. A day for everyone to get pissed.

[TANGODANCER]

Just for interest's sake only, and as a pointer at the English/ Scottish debate in another thread :

Another example of our Englishness is the flying of the Cross of St George, rather than the national Union Flag ("jack" is just a mainly nautical term for the mast if flies from). Pre 1805 there was no blue diagonal cross on it, just white diagonals. (This was pointed out to me by a nautical historian when the manufacturers of my model ship (which became Cook's "Endeavour in" 1768, wrongly supplied me with a modern Union Flag which hadn't yet arrived at the time).

I assume you mean the red diagonal cross? Which is the flag of St. Patrick?

Apologies for not being clearer. Yes, the red diagonal is Irish (my error in saying blue) but the point I was making is that the Scottish part of the Union Flag has been there since 1606 as an Anglo/Scottish union.

[Tank]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

Bollocks.

The main reason the English don't get behind St George's Day is because it isn't a national holiday. Us English love an excuse for a piss up just as much as the Jocks and the Irish, but when we all have to work, it puts a real dampner on the thing.

If it was made a public holiday, the streets of every town and city in this country would be covered with red and white, and the bars and pubs would make a wedge.

Bollocks.

If people actually cared that much they'd organise special outings for the closest weekend. Folk don't have Christmas Parties on Christmas Day. And yes, you have got exactly the idea of St Georges day. A day for everyone to get pissed.

I know of plenty going on today, 15 close friends of mine have been on it since 9 this morning, but sadly I couldn't get the time off work. In the town where I currently work, there is currently one of the largest St George's Day parades in the country going on so it shows there is interest in it.

Comparing work Christmas parties with St George's Day is ridiculous. Nearly everybody I know has a good old knees up on Christmas Day and celebrates it because you're not working. Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working? I've worked Christmas Day around 6x now and not celebrated it once when I was working because what's the point?

[TANGODANCER]

Maybe we should just scrap all the symbols and have a flag with a pint of Lager on it? The Brits have becom a world joke as pixx artists anyway.

[thebish]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

Bollocks.

The main reason the English don't get behind St George's Day is because it isn't a national holiday. Us English love an excuse for a piss up just as much as the Jocks and the Irish, but when we all have to work, it puts a real dampner on the thing.

If it was made a public holiday, the streets of every town and city in this country would be covered with red and white, and the bars and pubs would make a wedge.

bollocks - what you meant to say was...

the streets of every town and city in this country would be clogged with blokes driving to B&Q....

[Tank]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

Bollocks.

The main reason the English don't get behind St George's Day is because it isn't a national holiday. Us English love an excuse for a piss up just as much as the Jocks and the Irish, but when we all have to work, it puts a real dampner on the thing.

If it was made a public holiday, the streets of every town and city in this country would be covered with red and white, and the bars and pubs would make a wedge.

bollocks - what you meant to say was...

the streets of every town and city in this country would be clogged with blokes driving to B&Q....

Aye, I know.

Hark at me campaigning for an extra bank holiday, when I know full well that my lady would have me right under the thumb and out shopping.

[thebish]

Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working?

yes.

[Tank]

Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working?

yes.

Maybe after a twelve hour shift I find it hard to get in the Christmas spirit...

[thebish]

Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working?

yes.

Maybe after a twelve hour shift I find it hard to get in the Christmas spirit...

maybe you don't realise what my job is....

[Tank]

Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working?

yes.

Maybe after a twelve hour shift I find it hard to get in the Christmas spirit...

maybe you don't realise what my job is....

If you say "I'm Santa", I will be thoroughly ashamed.

[thebish]

Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working?

yes.

Maybe after a twelve hour shift I find it hard to get in the Christmas spirit...

maybe you don't realise what my job is....

If you say "I'm Santa", I will be thoroughly ashamed.

got it in one!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Just for interest's sake only, and as a pointer at the English/ Scottish debate in another thread :

Another example of our Englishness is the flying of the Cross of St George, rather than the national Union Flag ("jack" is just a mainly nautical term for the mast if flies from). Pre 1805 there was no blue diagonal cross on it, just white diagonals. (This was pointed out to me by a nautical historian when the manufacturers of my model ship (which became Cook's "Endeavour in" 1768, wrongly supplied me with a modern Union Flag which hadn't yet arrived at the time).

I assume you mean the red diagonal cross? Which is the flag of St. Patrick?

Apologies for not being clearer. Yes, the red diagonal is Irish (my error in saying blue) but the point I was making is that the Scottish part of the Union Flag has been there since 1606 as an Anglo/Scottish union.

Actually I believe Cook would have flown the Union Flag designed in 1707 following the Act of Union (which differed from the earlier design and is still used by the United Empire Loyalists over here).

[Prufrock]

over the last few years the most prominent part of St George's Day has been Daily Mail readers whining that Muslims or some unspecified official who represents "political correctness gone mad" has banned them from saying the word England or carrying a flag.....

and it was always bollox - the main reason we don't celebrate it that enthusiastically IS because we are ENGLISH

and the dominant cultural identifier of ENGLISHNESS - the very thing to be celebrated is - THAT WE CAN'T REALLY BE ARSED AND WOULD RATHER SIT AT HOME AND WATCH EASTENDERS WITH A TAKEAWAY.

Bollocks.

The main reason the English don't get behind St George's Day is because it isn't a national holiday. Us English love an excuse for a piss up just as much as the Jocks and the Irish, but when we all have to work, it puts a real dampner on the thing.

If it was made a public holiday, the streets of every town and city in this country would be covered with red and white, and the bars and pubs would make a wedge.

Bollocks.

If people actually cared that much they'd organise special outings for the closest weekend. Folk don't have Christmas Parties on Christmas Day. And yes, you have got exactly the idea of St Georges day. A day for everyone to get pissed.

I know of plenty going on today, 15 close friends of mine have been on it since 9 this morning, but sadly I couldn't get the time off work. In the town where I currently work, there is currently one of the largest St George's Day parades in the country going on so it shows there is interest in it.

Comparing work Christmas parties with St George's Day is ridiculous. Nearly everybody I know has a good old knees up on Christmas Day and celebrates it because you're not working. Would you celebrate Christmas if you were working? I've worked Christmas Day around 6x now and not celebrated it once when I was working because what's the point?

By celebrating, you still mean 'get pissed' right? If St George's is about patriotism, then tell your kids about Churchill, watch some Fawlty Towers, play cricket after work, you can do all of those. I think we should have more Bank Holidays, we are way behind Europe in that respect, and St. Georges is as good a reason as any, but all I'm saying is the reason people don't celebrate it isn't because it isn't a Bank Holiday (sorry Bish!!) but because they don't, really, care. Some do, often the mental racists, but often not as well, but the majority don't really care about a day set down for 'patriotism'.

[Prufrock]

Just for interest's sake only, and as a pointer at the English/ Scottish debate in another thread :

Another example of our Englishness is the flying of the Cross of St George, rather than the national Union Flag ("jack" is just a mainly nautical term for the mast if flies from). Pre 1805 there was no blue diagonal cross on it, just white diagonals. (This was pointed out to me by a nautical historian when the manufacturers of my model ship (which became Cook's "Endeavour in" 1768, wrongly supplied me with a modern Union Flag which hadn't yet arrived at the time).

I assume you mean the red diagonal cross? Which is the flag of St. Patrick?

Apologies for not being clearer. Yes, the red diagonal is Irish (my error in saying blue) but the point I was making is that the Scottish part of the Union Flag has been there since 1606 as an Anglo/Scottish union.

Aye, just checking, was confusing because when you say ''blue'' I automatically thought of Scotland, which changed entirely what you were saying, took me a while to decipher