St George's Day

[TANGODANCER]

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).

If you mean the present Union Flag minus the red diagonals, then yes, that's what he flew plus the Red Ensign on the stern. A red flag with a Union Flag in it's corner.

[bobo the clown]

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).

If you mean the present Union Flag minus the red diagonals, then yes, that's what he flew plus the Red Ensign on the stern. A red flag with a Union Flag in it's corner.

What've you done with your kettle Tango ??

[thebish]

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'.

not sure why the apology - cos that's exactly what I said (except I used the phrase "can't be arsed")

[Prufrock]

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'.

not sure why the apology - cos that's exactly what I said (except I used the phrase "can't be arsed")

Now who's guilty of a lack of clarity (me, for the record)! I was apologising for my ridiculous string of double negatives

[thebish]

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'.

not sure why the apology - cos that's exactly what I said (except I used the phrase "can't be arsed")

Now who's guilty of a lack of clarity (me, for the record)! I was apologising for my ridiculous string of double negatives

ahh - in that case - apology required and duly accepted!

[Prufrock]

And whilst we are on about flags, folk whinging about people having the Union flag 'upside-down'. Upside down it is exactly the same. You mean back-to-front. I'm only ever pernickety about pedantry.

[Gary the Enfield]

And whilst we are on about flags, folk whinging about people having the Union flag 'upside-down'. Upside down it is exactly the same. You mean back-to-front. I'm only ever pernickety about pedantry.

Ahem.

Upside-down

The Flag of the United Kingdom, whilst appearing symmetrical, the white lines above and below the diagonal red are different widths. On the side closest to the flagpole (or on the left when depicted on paper), the white lines above the diagonals are wider; on the side furthest from the flagpole (or on the right when depicted on paper), the converse is true. Thus, rotating the flag 180 degrees will have no change, but if mirrored the flag will be upside-down.

Placing the flag upside down is considered lèse majesté and is offensive to some,[4][5] However, it can be flown upside down as a distress signal. While this is rare, it was used by groups under siege during the Boer War and during campaigns in India in the late 18th century.

The Union Flag is vertically flown with obverse showing (i.e. it rotates 90 degrees and is not reversed - unlike the US flag, which is rotated and reversed so that the stars are kept in the top left corner).

[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?

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'.

We'll have to agree to disagree mate.

It's Saint George's Day and I can't sit here all night arguing the toss with you, I'm finishing work in half an hour and then I'm on it.

[Prufrock]

And whilst we are on about flags, folk whinging about people having the Union flag 'upside-down'. Upside down it is exactly the same. You mean back-to-front. I'm only ever pernickety about pedantry.

Ahem.

Upside-down

The Flag of the United Kingdom, whilst appearing symmetrical, the white lines above and below the diagonal red are different widths. On the side closest to the flagpole (or on the left when depicted on paper), the white lines above the diagonals are wider; on the side furthest from the flagpole (or on the right when depicted on paper), the converse is true. Thus, rotating the flag 180 degrees will have no change, but if mirrored the flag will be upside-down.

Placing the flag upside down is considered lèse majesté and is offensive to some,[4][5] However, it can be flown upside down as a distress signal. While this is rare, it was used by groups under siege during the Boer War and during campaigns in India in the late 18th century.

The Union Flag is vertically flown with obverse showing (i.e. it rotates 90 degrees and is not reversed - unlike the US flag, which is rotated and reversed so that the stars are kept in the top left corner).

That's not upside down, that's back to front. To make something upside down, you rotate it 180 degrees, which does not change the flag of the Union, to change it, you have to turn it back to front.

[thebish]

It strikes me as odd that anyone would expect ENGLISH people to celebrate a day about the essence of ENGLISHNESS in a manner that is wholly AMERICAN. St Patrick's day has been muricanised - it is now a themed nationalist day - and the Irish have embraced it - it makes money... good luck to them.

but it is very UN-ENGLISH to be so blatantly, cheesily, flag-wavingly, face-paintingly patriotic. The essence of ENGLISHNESS is surely stiff-lipped reserve and quixotic under-statement...

[TANGODANCER]

. The essence of ENGLISHNESS is surely stiff-lipped reserve and quixotic under-statement...

Except if you're a Morris dancer. (Now somebody will jump in and tell me that that originates from the Moors and Christians)

[Montreal Wanderer]

Yes, Tango - it looks like the one.
This is the Empire Loyalist Flag (they got chucked out of America and settled in Canada before the Union with Ireland so kept the old flag)

[TANGODANCER]

The Flag of the United Kingdom, whilst appearing symmetrical, the white lines above and below the diagonal red are different widths.

If you look here, you'll find the reason for that:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk ... jack4.html

[Montreal Wanderer]

That's not upside down, that's back to front. To make something upside down, you rotate it 180 degrees, which does not change the flag of the Union, to change it, you have to turn it back to front.

In an amusing aside when Toronto went to the World Series, also known as the Fall Classic, the US Marine honour guard marched into the stadium with the Maple Leaf Flag upside down. This led to a lot of jokes about 'Fall', our term for autumn, when the maples actually shed their leaves.



Canadians were generally laughing too hard to be annoyed (besides Toronto won).

[bobo the clown]

. The essence of ENGLISHNESS is surely stiff-lipped reserve and quixotic under-statement...

Except if you're a Morris dancer. (Now somebody will jump in and tell me that that originates from the Moors and Christians)

English Morris Dancing ... of which, tonight, there is a Festival in the glorious city of Chester.

I will get pictures for next week.

[thebish]

. The essence of ENGLISHNESS is surely stiff-lipped reserve and quixotic under-statement...

Except if you're a Morris dancer. (Now somebody will jump in and tell me that that originates from the Moors and Christians)

morris dancing has always looked quite reserved, restrained and genteel to me... and part of the quaint, absurd, quixotic, idiosyncratic weirdness that characterises englishness....

here's CAPS after a few pints on St George's Day...

[TANGODANCER]

And here are the far-right Tory Morris Dancers:

[davroduk]

F.F.S. Its Saint Georges Day.
Be proud to be English, (its not easy thee days)
Dont discuss it just celebrate it.
Who ever he was, its the day to be proud to be English.
Show the world

I AM FECKIN PROUD TO BE AN ENGLISHMAN !!!!!!!!!

[thebish]

F.F.S. Its Saint Georges Day.
Be proud to be English, (its not easy thee days)
Dont discuss it just celebrate it.
Who ever he was, its the day to be proud to be English.
Show the world

I AM FECKIN PROUD TO BE AN ENGLISHMAN !!!!!!!!!

is that you discussing it - on a forum??

[Lord Kangana]

Do you have a flag?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTduy7Qkvk8