What does St George's Day mean to you? and Bristol?

[Beorn]

Youngsters can express what England means to them in a competition to celebrate St George's Day.

Bristol's Lord Mayor, Councillor Christopher Davies, felt not enough was being done in Bristol to celebrate the patron saint, so he came up with a patriotic painting competition.
Under-18s are being asked to depict their favourite things about living and growing up in England – in crayon, pencil, pastels, poster paint, oils or acrylics. And the winners and runner's up will have their work put on display at the City Museum and Art Gallery.

Standing in front of a View of the Avon from Durdham Down, a painting by James Baker Pyne, which depicts an artist at work, the Mayor said: "There is so much about England and St George to inspire young people, I am confident that we will see some amazing paintings and drawings, that will not only showcase new local talent, but will also be the start of an annual celebration of our nation's unique and special qualities."

Mr Davies would like to see St George's Day celebrated like St Patrick's Day is by Irish people – and other nationalities – across the world.

He added: "Britain has its own celebration dates which are marked by public holidays and across the UK different areas mark their own day of celebration. But one day, April 23, St George's Day – England's own special day – has become overlooked.
"I would like to see it being marked as a special day of celebration across Bristol, the West Country, and throughout England.
"St George's Day should be a key date in our national social calendar, so let's start now."

The competition is being supported by the Guild of Guardians and one of the judges, along with the Mayor, will be the museum's curator of fine art Sheena Stoddard.
The Mayor believes the first competition of its kind is a good way to bring together people from all racial, religious and social backgrounds. -- Isn't it always an excuse.--

He said when he thinks of England he thinks of many things, including fish and chips at the seaside, a nice hot cup of tea, homemade scones and cream and "a pint of real ale or cider in one of our wonderful pubs".
He added: "It is a place of freedom, free speech, democracy and an outstanding sense of charity for others."

There are three categories in the competition – under seven; 7–11 and 11-18. First prize in each category is a £50 voucher, second gets a £25 voucher and third place wins a voucher for £15.

Entry themes can include mythical tales, sports, the seaside, the countryside, and things personal to the entrants. The winners will be invited to join the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House on St George's Day and the winning pictures will be displayed at Bristol School Gallery at the museum.

Source

I had picked up a leaflet whilst browsing through the local activities in the central library. I was pleasantly surprised to see such a scheme being raised publicly. These schemes all seem to have some multicultural twist to it, and I'm sure we shall see a few pictures depicting anything but England and the English, but overall it will hopefully raise an awareness in the Bristol children of who they are.

Here's the leaflet I picked up.

Attachment 3732

[Germanicus]

Simple..... Mrs Germanicus's birthday, and a day true Englishmen should celebrate having the luck to be born English.

[Wulfhere]

Simple..... Mrs Germanicus's birthday, and a day true Englishmen should celebrate having the luck to be born English.

Not really. St. George was imposed on England by its Norman conquerers. St. Edmund of East Anglia was the usual pre-1066 patron of England (feast day, 20 November). St. Edward the Confessor was also venerated by the Normans (since he was a pro-Norman traitor) so he's no good either.

Mercia, of course, had its own traditional patron - St. Alban. There were also St. Kenelm and St. Wystan, both Mercian kings.

[Germanicus]

Not really. St. George was imposed on England by its Norman conquerers. St. Edmund of East Anglia was the usual pre-1066 patron of England (feast day, 20 November). St. Edward the Confessor was also venerated by the Normans (since he was a pro-Norman traitor) so he's no good either.

Mercia, of course, had its own traditional patron - St. Alban. There were also St. Kenelm and St. Wystan, both Mercian kings.

Forget all that, it is not relevent to the ordinary man on the street, for those that celebrate it, it is a day to be celebrated and honoured to be English.

[Wulfhere]

Forget all that, it is not relevent to the ordinary man on the street, for those that celebrate it, it is a day to be celebrated and honoured to be English.

Maybe so, but St. George's day isn't relevant to most people either. Perhaps the English instinctively reject it, without fully realising why.

[Beorn]

Not really. St. George was imposed on England by its Norman conquerers.

A lot of saints, patrons and customs were imposed upon England after 1066, but it doesn't stop us as Englishmen embracing and celebrating what has now been ingrained into our English hearts and minds.

Maybe so, but St. George's day isn't relevant to most people either. Perhaps the English instinctively reject it, without fully realising why.

St. Georges day is relevant to many thousands, if not millions, of English folk today. The English never rejected or forgot about St.George and celebrating their Englishness, it was simply that the English never had to.