From looking around the world and within the UK, the two biggest factors that seem to generate passion for celebrating things like national saints days or other similar celebrations are:
1) being an ex-pat community.
2) being a historically conquered and/or suppressed culture.
St Patrick's day is a bigger thing pretty much every else than in Ireland especially in the US, the same goes for Cinco de Mayo which is not a big thing in Mexico yet is massive in the US.
The English suppressed the Welsh language and culture, so it is hardly surprising that in modern times there is a greater interest in celebrating and not loosing it.
For the English themselves, the influence of the language and culture is on the majority of the world is unmistakable, which has often led to complacency and simple lack of interest in feeling the need to have special days to highlight and celebrate that language and culture.
We sort of just take it all for granted because a large chunk of the worlds communications, literature, art, film, business and politics is done in our language and based upon our culture. Hence for most people, St George's Day hasn't been a particularly big thing.
Not to mention that the idea of some Greek bloke slaying an imaginary creature with a pointy stick is a ridiculous thing to be celebrating in this green and pleasant land.
Without free movement of conquerors, we wouldn't have a patron saint
The correct legal procedures were followed. Robinson knew precisely what he was doing and the attention he'd gain.
The Far Right are merely taking advantage of people's ignorance of contempt of court laws (which are designed to prevent trials from collapsing due to juries being unduly influenced etc) and as I said Robinson knows precisely what he's doing. No doubt once he's out of Prison he'll try the same thing again. I just hope he doesn't collapse a trial with his actions.
Guess we'd better stop hoping for a return of King Arthur to return to slay the dragon that is the EU....
It would explain Rees Smug's antiquated views. King Arthur reborn!
More like King Canute (or Cnut, for accuracy's sake)
If we are talking about patriotism for generating passion rather than specifically St Days, well the most patriotic nation I can think of is the US and then the rest of your argument falls flat.
That is very true. I've been an expat all my life and have celebrated Burns night in Libya and elsewhere, St Patricks day in Australia where the beer turns green for the day, and every other national day. Can't say I have ever celebrated St Georges day because IMHO it verging on being a bit fake. (bit like Morris dancing- but let's leave that one..data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7.)
Other foreigners have pointed out that we in England don't have an independence day! Now the list of countries that I have been in where I have joined in celebrating their independence is too long to list!
I note Wiki has him as Greek. As I understand it St George was a Roman soldier who was tortured to death in the Holy Land around 300AD for refusing to renounce his faith.
Richard The Lionheart felt he should be a good model for his troops. So as with anything else, we can blame the French.
Apart from this much of the rest of his life remains shrouded in mystery and his nationality is uncertain although he was possibly Turkish or Palestinian.
He certainly wasn't English but then St Patrick isn't Irish and St Andrew isn't a Scot.
23rd June.
This was where I get the Turkish/Palestine connection from:
BBC - Religions - Christianity: Saint George
Born in Cappadocia, an area which is now in TurkeyLived in 3rd century ADHis parents were ChristianLater lived in PalestineBecame a Roman soldierProtested against Rome's persecution of ChristiansImprisoned and tortured, but stayed true to his faithBeheaded at Lydda in Palestine23rd April was named as Saint George's day in 1222Just noticed that link is flawed, it says this:
Henry V
In 1415 Archbishop Chicele promoted the feast of Saint George to principal status after Henry V's speech at the Battle of Agincourt invoking Saint George as England's patron saint.
The line they mean was from Henry V fighting at Harfleur and earlier in the play:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'