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Should St George's Day be a holiday?
St George's Day could be a public holiday within the next couple of years if reports are to be believed. There has always been a reluctance to make April 23 a countrywide holiday, but Scotland's decision to make St Andrew's Day a voluntary holiday last year could help inspire a change. Do you think that St George's Day should be a public holiday?
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Am I the only person who can't see any point in having any public holidays? Of course I'm not suggesting that people should have their annual holiday entitlement reduced. I simply can't see the point in the majority of the working population having days off (on dates which might not be convenient for them) all at the same time.
In my last job (within the rail industry) we got either 29 or 34 days holiday each year (depending on length of service). Two of those days (Christmas Day & Boxing Day) were fixed, simply because the national rail system was shut down. However, all other 'public holidays' were just normal working days, at normal pay. Nobody minded this because, for example, somebody could put spare days of holiday together into a solid block (and thus take a short break away) rather than have odd days compulsorily dotted around April, May and August.
I suggest that we abolish all public holidays (except possibly over the Christmas period) while, of course, ensuring that everybody keeps their same total holiday entitlement.
Chris
In my last job (within the rail industry) we got either 29 or 34 days holiday each year (depending on length of service). Two of those days (Christmas Day & Boxing Day) were fixed, simply because the national rail system was shut down. However, all other 'public holidays' were just normal working days, at normal pay. Nobody minded this because, for example, somebody could put spare days of holiday together into a solid block (and thus take a short break away) rather than have odd days compulsorily dotted around April, May and August.
I suggest that we abolish all public holidays (except possibly over the Christmas period) while, of course, ensuring that everybody keeps their same total holiday entitlement.
Chris
I think the fact that there is so much umming and ahhing about whether to make St. George's Day a holiday, confirms the fact tha England is suffering from an identity crisis.
If the English really believed in themselves as a nation they would help us scrap the outdated and meaningless union that binds us together unwillingly and then take a positive step forward to reclaiming their own national identity and character. One way of doing this would be to their own national day that celebrates what is good about their country.
I do think, however, that patron saints' days are ridiculously outdated and I would be more in favour of just a 'National Day' like the Canadians (Canada Day) or New Zealanders (Waitangi Day). As a Scot, I'm proud to see my country asserting itself evermore confident ways, but I don't think that the national day should be limited to a Christian saint's name. I just don't think that it reflects modern Scotland at all. I think that goes for England too.
If the English really believed in themselves as a nation they would help us scrap the outdated and meaningless union that binds us together unwillingly and then take a positive step forward to reclaiming their own national identity and character. One way of doing this would be to their own national day that celebrates what is good about their country.
I do think, however, that patron saints' days are ridiculously outdated and I would be more in favour of just a 'National Day' like the Canadians (Canada Day) or New Zealanders (Waitangi Day). As a Scot, I'm proud to see my country asserting itself evermore confident ways, but I don't think that the national day should be limited to a Christian saint's name. I just don't think that it reflects modern Scotland at all. I think that goes for England too.
In terms of equality, if there are national holidays for Andrew, David and Patrick, then there should be for George. All or none. A certain online supermarket was touting St George's Day as a selling point for groceries this year but this is the first time I've seen it. What was on offer was booze and jam scones but let's hope the momentum grows. As loathsome as this Govt is, they are quick to jump on the Liferaft of Re-election.
With regard to the EU, I'm sure a few short years ago it was suggested that all Euro countries should have an equal amount of public holidays and that Italy has something like double ours. The proposal was rather than cut the Italians holidays and risk justifiable Latin fury, Britain should be brought up to their number, which means around 8 extra days to play with. So yes,
1) St George's day
2) Churchill Day
3) Shakespeare Day
4) Trafalgar Day (PH on 21st Oct)
5) VE Day
6) Runnymede Day
7) Midsummer Day
8) John Prescott Day (only joking)
With regard to the EU, I'm sure a few short years ago it was suggested that all Euro countries should have an equal amount of public holidays and that Italy has something like double ours. The proposal was rather than cut the Italians holidays and risk justifiable Latin fury, Britain should be brought up to their number, which means around 8 extra days to play with. So yes,
1) St George's day
2) Churchill Day
3) Shakespeare Day
4) Trafalgar Day (PH on 21st Oct)
5) VE Day
6) Runnymede Day
7) Midsummer Day
8) John Prescott Day (only joking)
Souldriver, I think allegedley he was born in what is now Turkey in the 3rd/4th century and the story isn't substantiated in any history books, it is purely a fairytale. Hence my point why is the patron saint of England a ficticious Turkish bloke? For some reason most people on here overlook the fact, probably the same misguided people who think Jesus was born at Christmas lol. I'm all for a patron saint but please can we have an English one who ACTUALLY lived!!
St George as a supposed Saint of uncertain origin with no relevance to England. There are many worthy characters in English history who deserve commemoration, but I don't think there would ever be agreement on who should replace St George. My answer to AB's question is 'No', but let us instead have an English Heritage Day for a Bank Holiday. This could be celebrated in many different ways based on real history.
In a word � NO.
Firstly, bravo to Buenchico above; this is what I've been thinking for years. There is no fun in having a day off if everywhere I want to visit is shut. Also, (serious point this) for vulnerable people, the sick, the old or infirm, this will be one more day that vital services will be absent (because all the really important places, like doctors' surgeries and social services, will be shut).
Secondly I get really annoyed about campaigners complaining that "we don't get as many holidays as European countries". If one of their holidays (most of which are tied to dates, not days of the week) falls at a weekend, it is lost. They don't get the Monday off. Most of ours are fixed to Mondays so they always happen. In practice, it works out about even.
Thirdly, the English in particular are not very good about celebrating anything. Most of our best celebrations (e.g. St Valentine's Day, Guy Fawkes' Day) are NOT holidays. If you want to encourage us to celebrate anything, make sure it is an ordinary working day and that children are in school that day. If St George's day was to be a bank holiday, it would be treated just like any other bank holiday.
I agree about May Day being shifted. However I most certainly don't want it shifted to the autumn when the weather is more likely to be poor. A good time would be some time in late June or during July.
Firstly, bravo to Buenchico above; this is what I've been thinking for years. There is no fun in having a day off if everywhere I want to visit is shut. Also, (serious point this) for vulnerable people, the sick, the old or infirm, this will be one more day that vital services will be absent (because all the really important places, like doctors' surgeries and social services, will be shut).
Secondly I get really annoyed about campaigners complaining that "we don't get as many holidays as European countries". If one of their holidays (most of which are tied to dates, not days of the week) falls at a weekend, it is lost. They don't get the Monday off. Most of ours are fixed to Mondays so they always happen. In practice, it works out about even.
Thirdly, the English in particular are not very good about celebrating anything. Most of our best celebrations (e.g. St Valentine's Day, Guy Fawkes' Day) are NOT holidays. If you want to encourage us to celebrate anything, make sure it is an ordinary working day and that children are in school that day. If St George's day was to be a bank holiday, it would be treated just like any other bank holiday.
I agree about May Day being shifted. However I most certainly don't want it shifted to the autumn when the weather is more likely to be poor. A good time would be some time in late June or during July.
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Course it should. What's wrong with being proud to be English anyway? (That's not racist, by the way. It doesn't matter where you come from, if you live permanently in England you're English if you want to be).
The story of St George encouraging the English Crusaders on in battle is symbolic, not to be dismissed as 'fairy tale'.
Let's keep English identity alive (in a multicultural, inclusive way). If St Patrick's is a good excuse for the Irish to have a p--- up, then we should have our own version.
The story of St George encouraging the English Crusaders on in battle is symbolic, not to be dismissed as 'fairy tale'.
Let's keep English identity alive (in a multicultural, inclusive way). If St Patrick's is a good excuse for the Irish to have a p--- up, then we should have our own version.
There's a pub in Irthlingborough that's been made to stop flying an England flag because it has "England" written on it so is classed as an advertisement which requires the coucil's permission.
The landlady has reportedly said "It�s ludicrous that we can�t fly the flag of our own country"
Now, unless I'm very much mistaken, the flag of England does not have the word "England " emblazoned upon it so if she's that patriotic, why can she not spend a few pound more and buy the real thing?
The landlady has reportedly said "It�s ludicrous that we can�t fly the flag of our own country"
Now, unless I'm very much mistaken, the flag of England does not have the word "England " emblazoned upon it so if she's that patriotic, why can she not spend a few pound more and buy the real thing?
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