Why does everybody forget St.Georges day. I'm not Irish so St.Patricks day is nothing to me, but its the only one that gets made a big fuss of!!!
2007-02-01 22:10:04 · 16 answers · asked by Katie M 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
St. George? You mean the "knight" who kidnapped and raped a girl, then claimed he "rescued her from a dragon"?
Being surprised that St. Patrick's day is more celebrated than St. George's day is like being surprised that blacks in the US want Martin Luther King day. England was the brutal oppressor of the Irish just as whites in the US enslaved and oppressed blacks. Why should it surprise that one is favoured over the other?
St. George is as much bunk as any other religious fable.
.
2007-02-01 22:54:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Saint George was not English but a Roman soldier living in Palestine, who was executed for being a Christian.
The real Saint George, would have to be the a Pagan myth, called Beowulf.
The poem Beowulf is the oldest Anglo Saxon poem in English literature.
Most people have heard of the story of Beowulf and the monster Grendel, yet few have heard of the last tale in the legend.
When Beowulf was growing old, he heard that some people in his land were besieged by a dragon who was devouring the people.
Beowulf set forth on his horse to defeat the dragon, whilst in battle with the dragon, Beowulf struck his sword into the stomach of the beast killing it immediately, whereby the dragon fell on top of Beowulf, killing him also.
The moral of the legend-myth is how it is brave to sacrifice yourself for the greater cause; to defend your people against tyranny and evil (represented by the dragon) .
It was the advent of Christianity amongst the Anglo Saxons, that caused the tale of Beowulf to be largely forgotten and later a Christian personage was put in the legends place, to iron out the last threads of paganism.
If one should look for a true Saint, I would say it should be King Alfred the great, who not only was a Christian, but was also responsible for the first form of education in England, as he encouraged the monks to teach his people to read and write, not to mention fighting and defending England from the pagan Vikings and Danes.
Due to the fact that England went through the reformation, we dispelled all ideas of Saints in pursuit of Protestantism.
That is maybe why culturally the English do not honour Saint George.
2007-02-02 07:08:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one ever used to care about being English. Only second rate unimportant countries that lacked a coherent identity ever bothered with things like St Patricks day.
Now no one knows whether they are British or English or Cornish now, so we're beggining to get in on act. It is only very recently that anyone has even bothered with the English flag, let alone a whole day of celebrations.
2007-02-02 06:17:12 · answer #3 · answered by Stu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People only care about St Patrick's day because it's an excuse to get drunk. It is sad that any form of national pride in England is perceived as arrogant/xenophobic though. Oh, and St Patrick wasn't Irish either.
2007-02-02 07:34:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always have a pint off Harvey's Sussex Bitter on St Georges day and fish and chips to be very English.
2007-02-02 06:26:11 · answer #5 · answered by Loader2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How come if he is your patron Saint your country does not honor Him more as the Irish do with St.Patrick? could it be that religion and faith is not as high a prority with your people as with the Irish?
2007-02-02 06:18:04 · answer #6 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
And Saint Valentine's Day. We kinda make a big deal outta that one, too. :p I guess Saint George's Day was never really associated with any particular action that was really noteworthy to the people who knew of it, hence it faded into obscurity.
2007-02-02 06:14:05 · answer #7 · answered by Will 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its because we not ment to be proud to be english. st patricks day is celebrated so we dont upset the irish any more than they already are. as a nation we need to make a stand and celebrate it, nothing stops you yourself from flying the flag. rally your neighbours and festoon the street in flags.
2007-02-02 06:33:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, we haven't had problems with dragons for a while, so I guess we're getting complacent. And, to be honest, celebrating with a cup of tea was never going to catch on.
2007-02-02 06:31:44 · answer #9 · answered by steveb9458 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When IS St George's day anyhow? St David's day is March 1st.
2007-02-02 06:15:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋