Happy St. George's Day

Why do we have a dragon? Why can't we have a proper English flag?

Google have given us a St George.

I think there has been more national pride for this over the last few years and hope it continues to spread. Of course in wonderful Malvern we do celebrate, but we would wouldn't we.

Because the dragon is the important bit, of course! Don't be silly, mal. Flags are so last millenium!

When I was a child (in Manchester) my grandparents ALWAYS sported a lapel rose on St. George's day - as did many of their peers. I half remember that more people wore one if the day fell on a weekend.

A very Happy St. George's Day to everyone! There is absolutely no sign of it here in my part of London, but I haven't been round the corner to look at the pub, they usually advertise it with flags.

Elegran I sort of assume you are a Saltire waver.
Yes it is English inertia to blame for our lack of national pride. As Gracesmum says I think pride in St Georges Flag has been highjacked by the far right.

The welsh adopted the red Dragon long ago. Perhaps Kat is welsh and that's why she is promoting the red dragons.

I think we should have the three lions.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Arms_of_England_(1198-1340).svg

In heraldry, the Royal Arms of England[1] is a coat of arms symbolising England and its monarchs.[2] Its blazon is Gules, with three lions passant guardant in pale or armed and langued azure! Meaning three identical gold lions with blue tongues and claws, walking and facing the observer, arranged in a column on a red background.

Go for the lions I say.
English lions next year please GNHQ

Oddly enough Nellie I am not! I was born and bred in the deep south and only came up here when I was 16, and anyway I am not one to be jingoistic and wave flags at the drop of a hat. But I do think that one reason St George's Cross is now considered to belong to the far right is that ordinary moderates allowed it to happen. For a long time, pride in the good features of England has been considered somehow naff and "not done", so no-one fought to wrest the flag back to represent a whole nation.

Another reason is that the union flag is so often referred to as an English flag - just as Britain is so often called England, and I have received letters from abroad which were addressed to me in "Edinburgh, Scotland, England".

j08 but I am last millenium! Alwasy did take me a long time to catch on.

It was Bags said that Movedalot, not me.

You are not seeing double - I did put this on the wrong thread and have now copied it over to this one.

Having a foot in two camps, I'll raise a or a to my English ancestors - and descendants. Ten years ago, I was with a Ramblers group in a non-tourist part of Spain. The patron saint of the town, Caceres, is St George and there was a big pageant that night, showing the Saint fighting the Moors and finally throwing his spear at the dragon at which was the signal for a fine fireworks display. Now that's what I call a celebration! Come on England!

Happy 7th Birthday today to my lovely DGS! His middle name is .... George

As well as being St George's Day and Shakespeare's birthday it's the birthday of my DD1...54 this year! so I never forget this date. Happy day to her and all of you.It's a gorgeous day here.
I love the Google picture for today!

Sorry j08 and Bags seems to be lost the plot day, must be the sun going to my head.

Who actually decided that this (Greek?) military figure should be the patron saint of England – and, much more importantly, why?

Absent According to which Wikipedia thread you read. He was becoming popular as a saint in England in the early 12th century pre Norman conquest and was finally selected as a patron saint of England in the mid 14th century. So the blame probably lies with Edward lll and his order of the garter.

Any complaints on a postcard to Edward lll please.

I must stop Googling every little query. I learn a lot but get very little done. It was the 1832 Paris uprising as featured in Les Mis that had me Googling this morning.

David Cameron tweeted from 10 Downing street what a lovely day it is for celebrating St George's day.

And Solihull Police wished everyone a happy day. Nice that wunnit?

Happy St George's day to my English friends everywhere

Do you live in Solihull j08 or is that just a random piece of info?

Random. #very (as were Solihull Police)

At my convent school in Salford in the 1950s, we had to wear shamrock on St. Patrick's Day but were not allowed to wear a rose on St. George's Day. I wonder if they would get away with it now? The nuns wouldn't let us go out to wave when Princess Elizabeth and the D of E passed right outside the school.

Dave always gets it right . Well nearly always .

On the right thread this time - Happy St George's Day to all English Gransnetters!

Thanks, Marelli

I thought a rose might be a nice idea, but wondered if choosing a colour would present a problem - White ~ or ~ Red. Might set off a Forum War!

Although the rose named Peace would be my favourite.

I think it should be made into a bank holiday.

The owner of a small business near her gave all his employees the day off. What a patriotic man.