A bit of discussion going around a present as to why we (english) don't celebrate him in the same way as others do their patron saint (e.g. St Patrick). Perhaps it's because he doesn't have quite the same length of service. There are some who would have the return of St Edmund as the patron saint of England. Any thoughts?
I still wonder why so many countries have a patron saint. Sainthood is a catholic concept and you can only have patron saints who have been canonised by the Roman Catholic Church.
So why does England even have a patron saint? Does the national day have to be about ancient myths?
Originally posted by Andrew Y: I still wonder why so many countries have a patron saint. Sainthood is a catholic concept and you can only have patron saints who have been canonised by the Roman Catholic Church.
So why does England even have a patron saint? Does the national day have to be about ancient myths?
Good points, although Edmund isn't mythical. However there may be more fitting historical (or otherwise)persons who could represent this country ? Any suggestions?
Originally posted by Greenjack: Good points, although Edmund isn't mythical. However there may be more fitting historical (or otherwise)persons who could represent this country ? Any suggestions?
Shakespeare? Born in April, the exact date is unknown, but generally celebrated on 23rd (& was baptized 26th, so seems likely he was born around about the 23rd). Also managed to die on 23rd of April.
--------------- "The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas-covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be" D Adams
Originally posted by Greenjack: Good points, although Edmund isn't mythical. However there may be more fitting historical (or otherwise)persons who could represent this country ? Any suggestions?
Shakespeare? Born in April, the exact date is unknown, but generally celebrated on 23rd (& was baptized 26th, so seems likely he was born around about the 23rd). Also managed to die on 23rd of April.
I was thinking more of someone who was some form of national hero, not someone who has caused untold suffering to countless school kids for years.
Originally posted by Greenjack: Good points, although Edmund isn't mythical. However there may be more fitting historical (or otherwise)persons who could represent this country ? Any suggestions?
Shakespeare? Born in April, the exact date is unknown, but generally celebrated on 23rd (& was baptized 26th, so seems likely he was born around about the 23rd). Also managed to die on 23rd of April.
I was thinking more of someone who was some form of national hero, not someone who has caused untold suffering to countless school kids for years.
Originally posted by Greenjack: Good points, although Edmund isn't mythical. However there may be more fitting historical (or otherwise)persons who could represent this country ? Any suggestions?
Shakespeare? Born in April, the exact date is unknown, but generally celebrated on 23rd (& was baptized 26th, so seems likely he was born around about the 23rd). Also managed to die on 23rd of April.
I was thinking more of someone who was some form of national hero, not someone who has caused untold suffering to countless school kids for years.
Charles Darwin?
You mock: But I recall seeing an article in the Telegraph a number of years ago, counter signed by a number of prominent "scientists" saying that Darwin's birthday should be celebrated by a bank holiday. I wrote a reply, but it wasn't printed.
What time is it, Mr Woolf? Time to mend your ways, for the end is nigh.
As a country with only a tiny proportion being catholic, why should we have a patron saint at all. If we have to have revered, representative national figure there are plenty of contenders who are actually English (St George was Turkish) even within the religious community. Broadening the catchment to include figures in science, literature, politics etc would allow us to include people who actually did something good rather than someone whose sole claim to fame is obviously mythical.
It would also give us a national character who is not also the national figure of a dozen or so other places.
actually I'm surprised they didn't print your comments. most papers have no problems printing cr@p .
....Just so long as it doesn't support Christian ideals in any way, shape of form.
They could have printed it in the humour section. I insist that you should have your own TV show. It would be a bit like Sharia TV but a one-man-show. A horror show with a humorous twist. Be afraid, be very afraid.... That kind of thing. Or you could bring your family and it would be something like the Addams.
arwin Day would be a great idea. 
