happy st george's day

[Jon MW]

...
Basically spent most of his time crusading in the middle east.

I believe he also fought for the roman empire at one stage.

...

2 very different time frames.

He was Roman - but it was around the time of the Crusades that he became recognised as our Patron saint.

History isn't my strongest subject so after posting what I thought was correct I checked my friend wikipedia and it said the following:

Saint George
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Christian hagiography Saint George (ca. 275-281 – April 23, 303[2]) was a soldier of the Roman Empire, from the then Greek-speaking Anatolia, now modern day Turkey,...

It also says:

By his late twenties he had gained the title of tribunus (Tribune) and then comes (Count)

Which means he had Roman citizenship - i.e. he was a Roman

[thediceman]

So I got a point wrong.

[Jon MW]

That was my only point to start with - I agreed with the rest, just not the crusades and Roman bit going together.

[gatso]

[thediceman]

Reading up on Saint George and the Roman empire it looks like he was around just as the Roman empire was coming to an end. With regards to me saying he was Turkish that was because I heard a couple that mentioned on a couple of programmes earlier today. I guess they may have made that comment because the area he was born is now known as Turkey. Thinking about it I've actually heard him previosly being stated as being Turkish.

[cia260895]

 

[kinboshi]

To be honest though - the 'saint's days' things a lot of nonsense really.  Most of the patron saints never went to the countries they are the patron saints of, some never even existed, and none of them killed dragons or cast snakes out, etc.

Maybe that's part of the problem.  What the hell have these saints got to do with me celebrating my Englishness and the country?

Anyway, in the English tradition, I will be having a curry tonight, with lots of Guinness, followed by some texas holdem.  It doesn't get any more English than that.

[GlasgowBandit]

Ironic that on a day the Englanders want to celebrate their Englishness they are infact celebrating a Turk, I wonder how the far right would react to that? 

[kinboshi]

Ironic that on a day the Englanders want to celebrate their Englishness they are infact celebrating a Turk, I wonder how the far right would react to that? 

Read the post above.  Celebrating today isn't about celebrating a semi-fictional character - it's about celebrating being English.

Also, who cares how the far right would react? 

[kinboshi]

Ironic that on a day the Englanders want to celebrate their Englishness they are infact celebrating a Turk, I wonder how the far right would react to that? 

...and st andrew's day celebrates an Israeli who went to Greece.  How Scottish is that??

[Graham C]

One of my Granddad's was born on St Georges Day, it's a day I like to remember for that reason too

[Geo the Sarge]

St Andrew was taken as patron Saint of Scotland as he was reckoned to be responsible of the conversion to christianity by Scotland. This tends to be the main reason for Saints being chosen by countries, a martyr responsible for the conversion of that country to their main religion. Rarely will you find a saint of the same nationality of the country they represent.

St George was originally the chosen saint of the Monarchy (a very English bunch throughout history) and subsequently replaced Edmund who up till then was generally regarded as the Patron Saint of England.

Although I do agree that today is a day for Englishmen/women to celebrate their Englishness and not any religious guff.

Happy St George's to you all.

Geo

[GlasgowBandit]

Ironic that on a day the Englanders want to celebrate their Englishness they are infact celebrating a Turk, I wonder how the far right would react to that? 

...and st andrew's day celebrates an Israeli who went to Greece.  How Scottish is that??

I don't celebrate St Andrews day. 
I just find it ironic, no need to get so touchy.

[GlasgowBandit]

Ironic that on a day the Englanders want to celebrate their Englishness they are infact celebrating a Turk, I wonder how the far right would react to that? 

...and st andrew's day celebrates an Israeli who went to Greece.  How Scottish is that??

I don't celebrate St Andrews day. 
I just find it ironic, no need to get so touchy.

Ohh and we don't need a particular day to celebrate our Scottishness.  One Scotland many cultures.

[kinboshi]

St Andrew was taken as patron Saint of Scotland as he was reckoned to be responsible of the conversion to christianity by Scotland. This tends to be the main reason for Saints being chosen by countries, a martyr responsible for the conversion of that country to their main religion. Rarely will you find a saint of the same nationality of the country they represent.

St George was originally the chosen saint of the Monarchy (a very English bunch throughout history) and subsequently replaced Edmund who up till then was generally regarded as the Patron Saint of England.

Although I do agree that today is a day for Englishmen/women to celebrate their Englishness and not any religious guff.

Happy St George's to you all.

Geo

St Andrew never went to Scotland, and the conversion to Christianity isn't necessarily something to be celebrated.

Thanks Geo