Wednesday 23 April 2014

Happy Saint George's Day

God Save The Queen.

Although (and it is not very often that I say this) I take Dan Hodges's point, even if he does fail to see the connection between later activities and what he bizarrely claims to have been the spontaneity of Euro 96, nevertheless today ought to be a public holiday throughout the United Kingdom.

As should Saint Andrew's Day, Saint David's Day and Saint Patrick's Day. Away with pointless celebrations of the mere fact that the banks are on holiday.

It is because, uniquely in the world, most of our public holidays are not for or about anything that, uniquely in the world, they do not in practice apply below a certain socio-economic level.

It is amazing how many people assume that because there is a legend about Saint George, he himself must be a purely legendary figure. He is not.

The Tomb of Saint George at his birthplace, which is now known as Lod and which is the location of Israel's principal airport, has become a shadow of its former self.

It was once a major focus of unity between Christians and Muslims in devotion to the Patron Saint of Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt before, and as much as, the Patron Saint of England.

Three quarters of those who practised that devotion were violently expelled in 1948.

On what remains, see here.

But as for Egypt, the Holy Father has today appointed a priest of the small Coptic Catholic Church as his Personal Secretary. Hope springs eternal.

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