Let’s celebrate – it is St. George’s Day! St George is not only England’s but one of Europe’s most popular patron Saints. Today he will be celebrated across Europe, especially in Portugal, Malta and Romania where he is their national saint as well.
Far from being a unique icon of Englishness he is the very embodiment of how European the English are. He is celebrated and venerated by all the Christian traditions including Greek Orthodox, Catholic and the Church of England. He is also venerated in Islam and is therefore perfect for a modern forward looking internationalist country like England.
Were he alive today there can be no doubt he would have supported the European Union and helped us to slay the Brexit dragon.
Those of a religious disposition should also note that according to Wikipedia he can “restore mad men to their senses”. So a prayer for those supporting the leave campaign may be in order too.
It is time to reclaim him from the far right and celebrate him in style. Please join in the fun on facebook/euromove and twitter #StGeorge4eu
* Mike Biden is an Executive ordinary member in Winchester. A lifelong supporter of the Liberals, he has become an activist since his retirement. His career saw him in senior corporate positions in Sales & Marketing and as a Chief Executive.
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13 Comments
LOL! Well said! But it’s also Shakespeare Day – if you want a more fitting tribute to Englishness…
The Georgians liked him so much they named their country after him.
Would the EU have allowed him visa free travel?
“A modern internationist country like England”
I join you in the celebration of St. George’s Day. However please be consistent as a LibDem. On the international stage we are the UK are we not or do you believe we are individual nations?
Please note what Nigel Farage said on BBC Radio 4 on Any Questions on Friday 22/4/2016. Strong comments from panellists who favour Remain.
A Scottish journalist who seems to favour Leave asked Tom Hunter on Channel 4 News “Do you know who your MEP is?”
(Mine are Catherine Bearder Lib Dem, Nigel Farage (UKIP) formerly Caroline Lucas (Green) and others. Trick question.
His attitude to endangered species is not something we should be celebrating.
Lovely romantic notion , now a realistic one , a new party policy I am promoting of a National day off for England on this day every year , or the nearest Monday !
St. George and Shakespeare may belong historically or culturally to others and the world , but they are the symbols of the English nation and this is why England should have what our friends in Scotland have , in St. Andrews Day and in Burns night ! The Scottish get it and want us to have a better sense of it , in order to better understand each other and feel more confident in ourselves and therefore less threatened .
It can coincide with Easter. Some years (such as this one) it is only a week away from May Day. The English must have done something worth celebrating in early July.
Celebrate a saint’s day instead of a birthday?
and hope for two lots of presents while in transition?
I am all in favour of a StGeorge’s Day national holiday and re-instating the ancient custom of making it a feast day. I do believe we need to embrace English Nationalism – after all we are the party that believes decision making should be as local as possible. The English need a voice and a place and space to assert their identity. We have given it to Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland – so we must give it to England too. The support for Brexit is in many ways a suppressed cry for English independence – England is the only part of the UK that is likely to vote Leave and there has to be a reason for that. The English feel they are getting a raw deal -Wales has free prescriptions, Scotland no tuition fees, we pay too much to the EU and get nothing back etc. The English feel put upon and those identifying most closely as being English are the most likely to vote to leave the EU.
We should ask why it is Wales StrongerIN and Scotland StrongerIN but in England it is Britain StrongerIN.
We had a great day out today and St. George worked his magic on more than a few voters.
Mike Biden well done indeed !!!
I agree he’s the perfect EU symbol. A mythical/fictional knight famous for fighting a fanciful beast.
He is also a popular figure in Ethiopian Coptic Christian iconography.