Past Imperfect

Monday, April 23, 2007

April 23rd St George’s Day

Only one in five people in England know that the 23rd of April is St George’s Day and more than a quarter of them don’t know he has been our Patron Saint since the 14th Century.

William Shakespeare was also born on April 23rd in 1564 and died the same day in 1616

Shakespeare made sure that nobody would forget St. George, and has King Henry V finishing his pre-battle speech with the famous phrase,

‘Cry God for Harry, England and St. George!’

St Andrew for Scotland, St Patrick for Ireland and St David for Wales get a much better press so let’s hear it for George – maybe it’s not politically correct but anyway:

HAPPY ST GEORGE’S DAY!

25 comments:

f:lux said...: And happy birthday Will Shakespeare!; 11:54 AM
Pat said...: Yay F:lux!; 12:00 PM
Anonymous said...: I know Patrick got the snakes out of Ireland and George wacked a dragon. What did David and Andrew do? Are there some beasts associated with them? Dust mites or something, perhaps?

Happy St. George's Day.

Cheers.; 12:39 PM
Drama Queen said...: As a Scot I had no idea it was St G's day. Sorry.

And Sherman, Andrew was the that got crucified on an X - hence the cross in the Scots flag. Allegedly.; 2:29 PM
Pat said...: Randall: nothing leaps to mind but a quick google tells me Andrew spread Christian Religion throughout Asia Minor and Greece.
David was a missionary and founded a monastery. He may have raised a boy form the dead and springs of water were said to appear after his visits.; 2:59 PM
Shane said...: And as if to confirm your point, I did not know that today was St George's Day. The question that all of this raises for me is 'What about the dragon?' If George found himself faced by one, then maybe there are more out there that we should be aware of... As if there weren't already enough tasks on my 'to-do' list, I shall now have to add 'dragon-proof the roof'.; 3:18 PM
Pat said...: DQ: that's no excuse young lady!; 3:30 PM
Pat said...: Shane: join the club! We were told our roof needed fixing in '85 when we moved in. Still standing. Isn't it a lovely picture. I've forgotten how to put it in Picasa once I've saved it so tried printing it and scanning it. Where there's a will...; 3:36 PM
Kim Ayres said...: My grandmother on my father's side had her birthday on St George's Day, which is why I remember it.

Mind you, mentioning Henry V, my birthday's on the same day as the battle of Agincourt.; 5:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Since my daughter was born on April 22nd and her dad was hoping it would be 23rd for St George I was actually aware of it. But I don't think my daughter would have appreciated being called Georgina. A very good friend of mone always called herself Ena and it was ages before I realised she was really a Georgina (born in November though); 5:18 PM
Pat said...: Kim I think you are one of the rare ones and how super to have a birthday on such a notable one.; 6:35 PM
Pat said...: Another rare one Sablonneuse. It's a pity when a lovely name like Georgina is made int Ena - not even Gina.; 6:38 PM
FOUR DINNERS said...: The company took down a small England flag from our Reception. I put it back and glared at the manager. It stayed there.; 7:18 PM
Pat said...: 4d: Good for you!; 8:03 PM
neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...: Pat, check out Caro's version of St. George's, hilarious http://caroslines.blogspot.com/2007/04/st-georges-day-pagent.html

Happy St. George's Day. What do yo do to celebrate?; 8:09 PM
Pat said...: GG: We don't - which is why I thought it was time to mention it.; 11:15 PM
SpanishGoth said...: Well, being Welsh by birth, I'm not really overly keen on celebrating anything English but... anyone who slays mothers-in-law gets a thumbs up from Goth World ;-); 3:53 AM
OldLady Of The Hills said...: A very Happy St. George's Day to you, Pat...(A little late, but...better-you-know-what, than-youknow-what...! (lol)...And A belated Birthday wish to Will, as well....!; 7:54 AM
Anonymous said...: What kind of meal would we eat to celebrate St George's Day? Roast dragon?; 8:52 AM
Villagepig said...: I recently completed my citizenship test and as a result my head is FULL of loads of the useful little facts. Of course all the Brits around me (including my husband) think that I'm showing off and boring them silly.

I say I'm all the better for knowing eh?

Amy; 10:20 AM
Pat said...: Spanish Goth: so no roast dragon for dinner!

Naomi: much appreciated. it gets forgotten or ignored here too often. Imagine forgetting St Patricks's Day.

Sablonneuse; not roast dragon - it has too many bad connotations for at least two of my blog friends. How about going Elizabethan?
Honey and fruit pie for starters
Capon with Orange for entree
Tart of Almonds for dessert.
(almond custard laced with rose water)
And lots of wine of the day - not mead - too sickly!; 10:24 AM
Pat said...: Good for you Amy! Now I'm confused. Where are you?; 11:41 AM
Pat said...: amy: I see you are another Amy - not the one on my side bar. Welcome!; 4:26 PM
Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...: Almond custard laced with rose-water. Mmmmmmmmmm. Dribble.

Happy belated St George's Day, Pat! I think more of a fuss should be made of it too, but then it's any excuse for a party with me.

We all have the lurgy here so have been a bit slow visiting my pals lately. The girls are back at pre-school today though so I can play for a wee bit! Woohooo!; 5:26 PM
Pat said...: S\m: hope you are all well again. the good weather seems to have brought lots of bugs.; 8:11 PM