Celebrating sense of national pride (From Stroud News and Journal)

Celebrating sense of national pride

The Irish do it with aplomb and so do the Welsh. When it comes to celebrating St Patrick's Day and St David's Day the national pride is second to none but poor old St George, popularly identified with England, heroism, bravery and courage, hardly gets a look in. Sunday is the valiant patron saint's day so the SNJ asked people what they think of the tradition and whether they will be taking part in celebrations.

FOR the past five or six years Ann Flook, 63, and a group of patriotic friends have been meeting up to pay homage to brave St George.

"We meet and all wear red and white clothes," said Ann, of Waterlane near Oakridge.

"We all believe England should be celebrated, and we usually meet for breakfast and have a laugh and a sing-along if we can.

"We're English and we say let's show anybody who cares to look."

Prize-winning author Jamila Gavin has no plans to celebrate.

"I was born in British India and was brought up with and am very familiar with the various British celebratory days," said the Stroud-based writer.

"I didn't think anybody had done anything for St George's Day for years.

"I do think about it but I'm always very aware that it is Shakespeare's birthday too.

"It's interesting as Shakespeare was much more British and St George was a Turkish Knight as I understand it.

"But I think it would be really appropriate if we merged the two events. "I can see why people are a bit reluctant to be overly patriotic due to bad press and the celebration being hijacked by extremists."

Meanwhile, Greg Neville, bar manager at the George Inn at Frocester, is planning a Medieval theme day - and says more people should join in St George's day festivities.

"We are having an archery competition followed by a sit down dinner with beef on the bone and we'll be drinking mead," he said.

"We don't celebrate it enough, St Patrick's Day is huge and St George's Day should also be a special event.

"I would back a campaign to make it a national holiday but as it is I think we are losing our identity."

Stroud MP David Drew, who plans to attend church, believes we should not get carried away with national pride.

"It's important as George is our patron saint and is associated with all sorts of valiant deeds," he said.

"Each of the four home countries should be celebrated for their own values and not competitively with the stakes being raised as it can become a bit jingoistic.

"I am as patriotic as anyone but I don't like nationalism if people believe certain races are better than others."

Nailsworth man and former Territorial Army member, Robin Shotter, 76, is disappointed that the saint will not be honoured at this year's Nailsworth festival.

"We don't celebrate our patron saints nearly as much as other nationalities," said the great-grandfather, who will be wearing his red rose and flying the red and white flag at Saint George's Church in Nailsworth.

He added: "The Irish have Saint Patrick's day and the Scottish Burns night but what do we have?"

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Who was St George?

Legend has it that George lived in the third century AD, but most details about the dragon-slaying hero are shrouded in mystery. Here are a few 'facts':

-He was born in Turkey to Christian parents and later lived in Palestine. -George became a Roman soldier but protested against Rome's persecution of Christians. -He was imprisoned and tortured but stayed true to his faith. -Was Beheaded at Lydda in Palestine -April 23, 1222 was named St George's day -He is patron saint not only of England also Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice. -He is also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis.