– Celebrate? Today? Did I do anything to celebrate today?
– Yes. St George's Day. The day on which you should take pride in your – Englishness.
– Of course. I've never really got into the swing of St George's Day. Not sure what to make of it, to tell the truth.
– Well, I suppose you can try and do something typically English. Perhaps recite a few words of Wordsworth. Earth has not anything to show more fair. That sort of thing.
– And there was one about daffodils, I remember.
– Indeed. Although I suppose roses would be more appropriate, as our national flower. Or you could celebrate by taking a relaxing stroll through our green and pleasant land. Or even partake of one of our national dishes.
– Such as?
– I'm rather partial to our many and varied steamed puddings. With custard. Crème anglaise, as the French would say. Were we to ask them.
– You see, I'm never sure where St George comes into it.
– Into custard?
– No, into the day itself. He doesn't seem very – local.
– True. But that's of minor importance. I think he personifies something very close to the English spirit.
– He killed a dragon.
– Yes. You can imagine that's the sort of thing that would appeal to the average chivalrous Englishman faced with a distressed damsel.
– Not much fun for the dragon, though.
– I suspect any dragon with his wits about him would come to expect it as an occupational hazard: passing knights taking a pot shot at him. After all, if he goes about distressing damsels, he has only himself to blame.
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| Roses. |
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