Friday, April 23, 2010

St George's Day

A few observations:
  • For all the inevitable talk about 'reclaiming' St George's day and the flag from fascists, it has never been a major fascist symbol. When someone claims otherwise they are articulating an unconcious prejudice that any patriotic display is racist.
  • Celebrating St George's day is very un-English. A defining feature of Englishness is not going in for national days, national costumes and all that.
  • Shakespeare was born and died on St George's day, which makes his prolific output all the more impressive if he only lived for one day.

5 comments:

PJH said...

Shakespeare was born and died on St George's day

Um, it's not known on which day he was born. He was baptised on the 26th however. Going by the Julian calendar that is...

We now use the Gregorian calendar, which was adopted in Catholic countries when he was 18. Using that one places his death in May.

Anonymous said...

Bad times ahead for the Anti
English.We are re claiming our land and we are not fussy how we do it.Dont worry about where
St George came from ,just keep your eyes open for the Doc Martins.


Hengist

James Higham said...

There's logic in there somewhere. HSGD to you.

Mark Wadsworth said...

As to point 3, Shakespeare had a lot of stuff ghost written, so maybe he spent that day sorting out the contracts and the style guidelines?

Yaffle said...

I passed a (no doubt municipally funded) display of morris dancing yesterday in Hammersmith, as bemused multicultural locals looked on.

You're right Ross, the English don't do all that völkisch fol-de-rol - or at least, do it badly when they try.