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Happy St Georges Day!

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d9f1c7 | 10:06 Mon 23rd Apr 2012 | News
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//// grown men with bells on and silly hats being hit by another man with a pigs bladder and knocking bits of wood ,,, not exactly the Haka is it ////

No, it's not the haka, Rowan, well spotted. Just like morris doesn't involve rolling your eyes, sticking your tongue out and grunting! (Except after a few real ales maybe)

I just find it very sad that English native traditions are generally mocked while we'll happily watch the NZ haka, Indian bhangra or African drumming, whatever, and patronisingly go 'Oh gosh, aren't they marvellous! Such energy!How ethnic!' etc, etc
As I thought early mediaeval.

For Hula's sake, I quote from the Encyclopedia Britannica, but that probably isn't credible enough a source for her, even though it comes from an eminent Oxford historian - as she will see he was a champion for the poor and needy, values important for early Mediaeval nobility and knights, extending into the Crusades:

George held the rank of tribune in the Roman army and was beheaded by Diocletian for protesting against the Emperor's persecution of Christians. George rapidly became venerated throughout Christendom as an example of bravery in defence of the poor and the defenceless and of the Christian faith.

George was probably first made well known in England by Arculpus and Adamnan in the early eighth century. The Acts of St George, which recounted his visits to Caerleon and Glastonbury while on service in England, were translated into Anglo-Saxon. Among churches dedicated to St George was one at Doncaster in 1061. George was adopted as the patron saint of soldiers after he was said to have appeared to the Crusader army at the Battle of Antioch in 1098. Many similar stories were transmitted to the West by Crusaders who had heard them from Byzantine troops, and were circulated further by the troubadours. When Richard 1 was campaigning in Palestine in 1191-92 he put the army under the protection of St George.

Because of his widespread following, particularly in the Near East, and the many miracles attributed to him, George became universally recognized as a saint sometime after 900. Originally, veneration as a saint was authorized by local bishops but, after a number of scandals, the Popes began in the twelfth century to take control of the procedure and to systematize it. A lesser holiday in honour of St George, to be kept on 23 April, was declared by the Synod of Oxford in 1222; and St George had become acknowledged as Patron Saint of England by the end of the fourteenth century. In 1415, the year of Agincourt, Archbishop Chichele raised St George's Day to a great feast and ordered it to be observed like Christmas Day. In 1778 the holiday reverted to a simple day of devotion for English Catholics.
Exactly my point Hula, so my last source withstanding, why get you knickers in a twist over a Turk/Syrian symbolising the old values of what this country stood for (and note the past tense in this).
DT - thanks for that, that's extremely interesting.

Kiki - with regard to your last para., well said !

Hula - I don't think I have foreign blood running through me (ducks down ...)
There isn't a woman alive who doesn't swoon at the sight of the pure sexual athleticism of morris dancing.
i like morris dancing, not sure i'll go as far as swooning

happy st ....... day to all my nationalities
Did St George go to Glastonbury for the festival, do we know dt? I must've missed him that year.
You said it Ed !!
Hulagirl, some saints do have connections to the countries of their patronage: Patrick preached in Ireland, even if he didn't do anything to snakes; David was a Welsh bishop; Andrew's relics have been in Scotland for centuries (probably).

George, though... no connection at all to England. You'd think they could find someone a bit better, though if it was put to a vote the result would probably be St Lennon, which I could do without.
not quite true, jno, read my summary, i.e. through the Crusades......
the Crusaders would certainly have encountered him in the Holy Land - he was probably born in Israel - but his connections to Glastonbury were about as plausible as Jesus'. (And did those feet in ancient time... nope.) He remains adamantly a foreign import. Like a Chelsea footballer, and you wouldn't have their imports playing for England however much you liked them.
Happy St George's Day one and all...now - what about campaigning to get the day moved to August and thereby a) guaranteeing a rain-free day and b) being able to celebrate it with your kids (as they'd be on their summer break).
/// what about campaigning to get the day moved to August and thereby a) guaranteeing a rain-free day ///

Yes we all remember those guaranteed rain-free days of August, don't we?

http://www.telegraph....o-British-summer.html
AOG

Point taken - but at least in August, the rain is warm...
Leave it where it is sp, is there nothing about the english culture that certain section want changed.
^^

Yes don't change it - it's such a marvellous success where it is now L O L
brenden - did you go private for your senseofhumourectomy - or was it on the NHS.
I am too old in the tooth to worry about petty remarks the likes of which you have just made Zeuhl, nobody is forcing you to celebrate our St. Georges day.
That goes for you as well sp
brenden

don't you swing your handbag at me just 'cause you can't think of an answer.

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