St.Georges day

[marval]

Today is St. George's day, so may I wish you all a happy St.George's day, whether he is your saint or not.

Margaret

[Krummhorn]

Happy St. George's Day to you also, Margaret.

St. George is the Patron Saint for England (and other countries) and as such, today is also a National day for many people.

Here's an interesting Wiki Article on St. George's Day.

[methodistgirl]

How do you celebrate St. Georges day? I'm not catholic. I go to
a Methodist church.
judy tooley

[marval]

Hi Judy

Well in the Uk we tend not to celebrate too much. Some people want to make it a holiday, but the government says no.

Mostly we just hang out flags, on buildings or on cars. Sometimes if it is on a saturday people have a street party. The Irish celebrate much more for their St.Patrick's day.


Margaret

[rojo]

Happy St. George's Day, marval.

I doesn't seem to say much on that wiki page about him slaying the dragon. That's the first thing that comes to my mind about him. Must investigate that...

[marval]

Hi Rojo

The link below might tell you more.


www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/stgeorge2.html

[Krummhorn]

How do you celebrate St. Georges day? I'm not catholic. I go to a Methodist church. judy tooley

One doesn't have to be Catholic in order to celebrate a "Saints" day. We have many "holidays" that all people (regardless of religion) celebrate that are named after "saints":

• St. Patrick's Day
• St. Valentine's Day
• All Saints Day (aka All Souls Day)

(btw: catholic means "universal church" of all religions ... Catholic means Roman Catholic church)

I found the article that Marval put up quite interesting ... and certainly explains in more detail what this special day is all about.

So, the UK Government does not recognize this as a National holiday? Interesting, given the history and all. What holidays are recognized by your government, Margaret?

[rojo]

Hi Rojo

The link below might tell you more.


www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/stgeorge2.html

Thanks marval; that's exactly the kind of thing I was remembering. I must have read one of those stories in my youth. I guess one doesn't easily forget the slaying of dragons.

[marval]

Hi Rojo

Glad you liked the article.

Krummhorn , we celebrate New Year's day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May bank holiday on the 1st Monday in May, Spring bank holiday on the last Monday in May, Summer bank holiday on the last Monday in August, Christmas day and Boxing day. That is in England and Wales.

Scotland also celebrates St.Andrew's day 30th November or nearest Monday.
And Ireland celebrates St.Patrick's day on 17th March.


Marval

[intet_at_tabe]

Miss Margaret

Great read about the fight with the dragon, and the pictures from a hundreds of years old tradition each year in celebration. Not to mention, I ended up on the link to the UK and Britain and the three countries Wales, England and Scotland and who may call themselves British.

So beside smiling while reading, I learned something new at the same time. Thank you

[marval]

Hi Intet

I am always pleased that you can learn on this wonderful international forum. I learn too.


Margaret

[Krummhorn]

. . . May bank holiday on the 1st Monday in May, Spring bank holiday on the last Monday in May, Summer bank holiday on the last Monday in August . . .

Margaret,

My goodness - the banks have their own holidays? Wondering what the significance of this is ... not being critical by any means, just trying to understand a different culture from our own in the US.

[marval]

Hi Krummhorn

Yes banks have holidays.

The article below tells you a little about the history.

Hope that helps.


Margaret



Bank Holidays are days of the year when there is a general day off from work. Originally these were days when banks shut and so this took away the ability of many other businesses to operate normally and so there was a general shut down of all work places on these days.

The first official recognition in law came about in 1871 with the Bank Holidays Act. For the first time days which would be classed as official bank Holidays were laid out. Notably the act omitted Christmas Day and Good Friday as these were already recognised as days of rest. The act was incorporated into the Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971 along with some additional dates. Dates added after the act are setout annually by Royal Proclamation.

There had been many national days of holiday before this time and pre 1834 these numbered 33.
In modern times it’s become more and more common for some class of workers, for example employees in the larger retail stores, to continue to work on these days but as 2 or 3 times their normal salary. Banks still all closed and the majority of businesses shut but enough remain open to provide a basic range of services. Those involved in the emergency services will also largely remain at work on these days.

There always calls for extra days to be set aside for bank holidays and for all manner of events to be recognised in such a way, for example some people are asking for a British Day, a Europe Day and for the Queens Birthday to be marked with a national holiday.

Oweing to differences in national history between the four countries that makeup the UK, (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) bank holidays are not consistent between each country, with certain countries having their own holidays not taken as national holidays in the other countries. However in reality only those common dates set out in statute or proclamation are days off. National days off not declared in statute or proclamation are just that, national holidays and not bank holidays.

Certain bank holidays are fixed in date but if they occur on a weekend they are then deferred to the next working day, for example Christmas Day and Boxing Day. If they both occur on a Saturday and a Sunday they the Monday and Tuesday become the bank holidays.

Its worth noting that even though the days themselves are set aside and recognized there is no actual statutory right to have a day off on these days. It would very hard to find a company that didn’t recognize these days as paid days of leave but the bottom line is whether or not a worker is entitled to the day off is down to their contractual rights.

[Krummhorn]

Margaret,

Quite interesting ... thanks so much for the explanation .

[marval]

Hi Krummhorn

You're welcome.


Margaret