St. George's Day

[yesman]

St George's Day should be made a national holiday in England, a Conservative MP has said.

On the eve of the patron saint's day, Andrew Rosindell suggested scrapping the May Day Bank Holiday to make way for a day off on 23 April.
"I feel that it is time that we asserted our Englishness," the Romford MP told GMTV.
"Why should England be one of very few countries in the world that doesn't have a public holiday to celebrate their national day?" he said.

Fine but does he think that people want a day off, Yes!, without pay, No!

There is also the fact that scapping one day off is not very likely to happen certainly not as likely as another Bank Holiday.

There is also the problem that St. George is also patron saint of Canada, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia and quite a few cities like Istanbul and Moscow. So not exactly English seeing as he was a Roman Soldier of the 3rd. Century from Anatolia and in all probability never came anywhere near these islands.

So we have calls for a national day for St George which is likely to cost small businesses for days off etc. etc.

It has been called for in previous years so the risk of something happening must be getting higher.

[Russ]

When we get St Taff's day off, I'll agree to St Saesneg.

[Matt D]

I think it should be a Public Holiday in England.

[or, better still, we should switch to someone like St Alban & have a holiday for his day instead, rather than some Roman soldier from Turkey who never came to England & is also the patron saint of many other countries plus also sufferers of syphilis etc.]


Then, Wales can have Saint David's Day as a Public Holiday, & Scotland can have Saint Andrew's Day [or not, seeing as they already get an extra day at New Year grrr].


Seeing as Northern Ireland - which is part of the UK - already has Saint Patrick's Day as a Holiday.

[Halcyon]

Anything to add more holidays is a good thing.

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by yesman

St George's Day should be made a national holiday in England, a Conservative MP has said.

On the eve of the patron saint's day, Andrew Rosindell suggested scrapping the May Day Bank Holiday to make way for a day off on 23 April.
"I feel that it is time that we asserted our Englishness," the Romford MP told GMTV.
"Why should England be one of very few countries in the world that doesn't have a public holiday to celebrate their national day?" he said.

The trouble is, this is in danger of becoming a political argument.

May Day bank holiday is celebrating 'International Workers Day' & could be perceived as a Socialist invention.

St. Georges Day as a bank holiday would no doubt be seen as a Nationalistic holiday pandering to the BNP & racists in general.

There are those that suggest one holiday a month, taken as a long weekend, instead of the current Bank Holiday tradition. No religious or political significance could then be construed...

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Anything to add more holidays is a good thing.

errm it would be replacing an exisiting holiday?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

errm it would be replacing an exisiting holiday?

Ah, I see. Ooops.
Well in that case just juggle them round a bit and add it in somewhere.
I think we don't have enough holidays.

[yesman]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

The trouble is, this is in danger of becoming a political argument.

May Day bank holiday is celebrating 'International Workers Day' & could be perceived as a Socialist invention.

St. Georges Day as a bank holiday would no doubt be seen as a Nationalistic holiday pandering to the BNP & racists in general.

There are those that suggest one holiday a month, taken as a long weekend, instead of the current Bank Holiday tradition. No religious or political significance could then be construed...

I can see what you are saying, but I think most of the English people would only see it as another national/bank holiday which at this time of year would be very welcome, and not some sort of political statement.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

St. Georges Day as a bank holiday would no doubt be seen as a Nationalistic holiday pandering to the BNP & racists in general.

As Northern Ireland has St. Patrick's Day as a Public Holiday, then why shouldn't England, Wales, & Scotland each have their respective Saint's Day as a Holiday?



EDIT - Yes, I know the actual suggestion mentioned in the 1st post is just for St. George's Day, but why not all?

[Paul M]

Do we really need another holiday in April ? - no thanks.

I'd sooner have one in July.

well my mum got a bit emotional when she saw a saint george flag, today, so while I agree about the distribution of 'bank holidays' I would personally rather have a saints day, than a mayday?

[danielf]

I think the May bank holiday should remain, for the political reasons outlined above. I also think there is nothing wrong with having an English national day. Seeing England/the UK work the longest hours in Europe anyway, I would suggest making St. George's day an additional holiday. Obviously, this would mean the other home nations can have their own national holiday.

[Maggy J]

I want as many bank holidays as possible....St Georges day because it's Shakespeare's anniversary of his birth and death,Trafalgar day, and a Churchill day just for starters.I reckon one Bank holiday per month would be a great idea.

[joglynne]

Civil servants get a day off to celebrate the Queen's Birthday. Just thought I would throw that titbit of information into the mix. Come to think of it they also get 1/2 day for Maunday Thursday.

[maddyp]

it is not racist, or political or anything..it is an excuse for a holiday so yes please!!!
look at the us they hve presidents day and al take it off even though it is bush...so that proves a holiday is a holiday with no political or social concience