April 23rd happens every year, regular as clockwork, it always follows the 22nd and it always precedes the 24th. Strange that really, it’s just another day, nobody takes any notice of it at all.

BUT, if that date had been December 31st most people in the country would be celebrating.
Had I mentioned any other random dates, 26th January(for 2 reasons this year), 1st March, 17th March, 4th July, 17th October, 5th November or 30th November then probably at least a third of the UK population would be able to find something to celebrate on these dates. Special feasts and parties, paying homage to saint’s days, honouring tradition or just a reason for a good old knees up.

Not the 23rd of April though, that’s just another day.

Oh hang on, its not just another day, 23rd April 1564 William Shakespeare was born.
By a strange coincidence 23rd April 1616 William Shakespeare died. But surely that cant be reason enough to etch the date into millions of English peoples brains, we probably need a much better reason than that.

In the year of 1222 a very significant event happened on 23rd April, The Council of Oxford (and that’s not the local council) declared 23rd April would be a special feast day, it would be celebrated annually in order to pay homage to the new patron saint of England, St George.

That’s incredible, I know some English people who didn’t even know we had a patron saint, much less when his special day is held. I know farmers who don’t know that St George is the patron saint of farmers, or scouts, soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry (if chivalry is not dead) field workers, riders and saddlers.
All of these groups have paid homage to St George at some time, not now though because it’s just another day.

The strange thing is though, in 15 years of involvement with fireworks I have been asked to supply fireworks or put on a fireworks display for every one of the dates mentioned except for the 23rd April.

The reason, because nobody celebrates St George’s day because its just another day. Or as quoted to me by a Local Authority, “nobody celebrates St George’s day because nobody has celebrated St George’s day.”

Now Im all for supporting the red white and blue, I’ve had a few drinks with Irish, Scottish, Welsh Australian and American friends. I’ve eaten special treats for Chinese New Year and Divali. Is it too much to ask that for 1 day per year I can celebrate being English. Perhaps the words of William Shakespeare himself should be recited aloud on this immortal day …

“Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George! “
Bob Pilkington
ZacleighPyrotechnics
Telephone - 01933 411995
Mobile - 0791 4851518
Email -info@zacleigh.com

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