Happy St George’s Day!

[erastes]

Come on, government, make it a National Holiday will you?  Why are we so scared of claiming something ENGLISH? Why are we so worried about offending everyone else with the St George’s flag that we end up almost offending ourselves, and harbouring feelings of guilt that if we proudly wave our own nation’s flag we are seen to be Doc Marten wearing racists?  The Scottish and Welsh are allowed to be proudly nationalistic, so it’s about time we stopped being stupid and claimed the flag for what it stands for, and not the perception of what bigots have made of it. We’ve lost so much of our English heritage and folk-lore and traditions, it’s about time we started bringing them back. (and yes, I know St George wasn’t English, but one works with the material one has.)

So – as it’s Shakespeare’s (assumed) birthday and death day – here’s a sonnet. Some of you will have read it before, but there’s a lot of new people here!

Enjoy!

Thou ‘minds me, love, of nothing more than autumn;
a grey November dull with sullen mists.
That vacuum secret month, when senses grow numb,
but yet this taboo spark for thee exists.
When in thy presence something overtakes me,
an acid etchéd line ‘twixt want and hate;
compulsion both to hex thee and to kiss thee,
to strike thee down and take thee to my mate.
Other hands than thine have made me harden,
other lips than thine have touched this skin,
so why should I attempt to seek thy pardon,
when other lips fulfil what you begin?
So sneer sweet enemy, on with this vendetta,
It makes me love thee, and to hate thee better.

Comments

[beckyblack]

Personally I always saw flag waving and shouting about being the greatest like other countries do as kind of a sign of insecurity. ;-) We English folks don't need to shout about being the best, we just know we are, quietly and in a very English way. :D

Meh, we've got the World Cup coming up, so there'll be enough flag waving going on there. Along with the usual false hope leading to bitter disappointment and despair I expect.

I'm not even keen on a St George's Day bank holiday, because the BNP have that in their manifesto!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Super sonnet!!

St Andrew wasn't Scottish and is shared with Russia, and St Patrick was Welsh. Why shouldn't we have a brave Cypriot as our patron saint?

Maybe next year I'll remember to get myself a rose to wear.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

a rose! that's a damned good idea.

Now of course the colour.... that's a bone of contention....

Glad you liked the sonnet! Thank you!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I'd like a wild one for preference, but they aren't in bloom then so I'll hedge sit and get a nice pink one.

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

Happy St. George Day! This was church this morning for his Feast Day in all the Greek Orthodox Churches and he is remembered as the Patron Saint of England.

This is sung during the liturgy today:
"Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved."

:)

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

That is so cool!

(Sorry, I know I'm a complete stranger, but I felt the need to squee!)

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

If it's any comfort, I've just come in from morris dancing in front of two pubs and Ely Cathedral in honour of the occasion :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

YES! more morrising needed!

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

It was actually really cool. As we were setting up for the first dance in front of the cathedral, a bunch of teenagers came up. They'd obviously been out on the lash and they heckled us and laughed and skipped around us. Then we did the first dance and they cheered and went "I want a go!" So we ended up getting six of them involved while the others filmed it on their mobile phones. One of the musicians asked them what day it was and they all went "St.George's Day!"

In the end they had a great time, we had the most enthusiastic audience we've ever had, and the entire thing had that intoxicated, fun, slightly dangerous, slightly ludicrous feeling that I associate with 18th Century England. We were all being very silly and none of us cared.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Couldn't agree more.

The licensee of one of our local pubs applied for an extension of opening hours on St George's Day a few years ago and had his application refused.

St Patrick's Day, no problem. 4th of July, no problem. St George's Day was turned down on the grounds that it's "not a recognised public celebration."

Welcome to England...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

argh! MADNESS

[angrboda]

This whole entry. lexitus was deeply surprised about the way we use our flag when he came to Denmark. As soon as there's something to celebrate, up it goes. Birthdays, weddings, confirmations, good weather, it being sunday (okay the last two are just my dad liking his flagpole), and on tons of stuff for international use. It seemed so strange to him. Although when he tried to explain it to me, I think he was focusing mainly on the Union Jack and the imperialist aspect and such. It took him a while to get used to it, and in the beginning I think he was even a little uncomfortable about it. I felt a little sorry for him then. What's prettier than the flag against a blue sky and with just enough wind to fold it out properly?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

We've been forced - by the Poliitical correct lobby - to think that there's something "wrong" with being English - while all the time they respect the other countries' rights by granting them autonomy - becuase to refuse them would be wrong also. Being English isn't about colour - any more than being American or Danish is about colour - and that's what people forget!