For anyone with an interest in the history of England, tomorrow, 20th November, is the day when we remember the true Patron Saint of England, Sr. Edmund. He lived in East Anglia (Bury St.Edmunds) around the time of 850 AD.
Professing his faith, he was murdered and therefore martyred by the Danes on or about 876 AD. He was later canonised and the cult that grew around him ensured his prominence as the Patron Saint of England.
When the Normans later arrived they were keen to remove the existing culture and replace it with their own including a mythologised George of Cappodocia (St. George) who over time gradually but not completely, replaced St. Edmund.
There has been during the last two or three decades a drive to restore St. Edmund to his rightful place. You don’t have to be religious or a Christian to acknowledge the importance of St.Edmund as a symbol of Englishness.
By: Meddle - 20th November 2014 at 13:44
Re 9 & 11
Such blissful ignorance !
Very droll, coming from a Thatcherite who seems to think UKIP are going to sweep into power.
By: John Green - 20th November 2014 at 13:25
Re 9 & 11
Such blissful ignorance !
By: Meddle - 20th November 2014 at 10:43
But these islands are probably the best example of the “melting pot” social culture long before the Americas were overrun by incomers.
Given OP’s apparent penchant for right-leaning politicians who sold a nostalgic view of the country as being greater and more quintessentially English at some undefined point of time safely in the past (think Thatcher), then your notion of the country being a ‘melting pot’ will probably go over rather uneasily, as much as we are a horrid ragtag bunch of mongrels.
By: charliehunt - 20th November 2014 at 10:35
So who are the ‘English’??
An interesting question and one which you are not the first to ask. Do you mean ethnically, historically, or simply now? The invasions of Angles and Saxons and others from northern Europe effectively pushed the indigenous peoples to the western fringes and formed the basis of what became England. The evidence remains in place names and family names. But these islands are probably the best example of the “melting pot” social culture long before the Americas were overrun by incomers.
By: Meddle - 20th November 2014 at 10:16
You don’t have to be religious or a Christian to acknowledge the importance of St.Edmund as a symbol of Englishness.
A distant relation of Noel Edmunds, another symbol of Englishness (like the kebab and khorma)?
By: Argonaut - 20th November 2014 at 09:59
Blackadder probably didn’t help much with restoring the name ! ha ha.
By: AlanR - 20th November 2014 at 09:26
Weather permitting, we shall be going to the Bury St Edmunds Christmas fair next Friday.
I shall look the old boy up 🙂
By: Creaking Door - 20th November 2014 at 09:18
So who are the ‘English’? Yes, we’ve experienced waves of invasion, colonisation and transfers of culture, technology and religion but the majority of the population wasn’t ‘replaced’ during any of these events, surely?
By: charliehunt - 20th November 2014 at 08:41
Unless you are Norman ( who were Scandinavian anyway) or Celt, that’s where you are from, CD!!!!:D
By: Creaking Door - 20th November 2014 at 08:32
Born in Nuremberg…
Yep, you can’t get more English than that! 😉
By: 91Regal - 20th November 2014 at 01:17
Symbol of Englishness, JG?
You could very well receive a visit from the righteousness militia for a remark like that.
By: charliehunt - 19th November 2014 at 20:45
His name has been given to many schools and colleges all over the country, one of which I have personal experience of. Born in Nuremberg he has excellent Saxon credentials.
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November 19, 2014 at 7:44 pm