Other countries’ saint days ‘better known than ours’

A poll by ICM for national identity thinktank British Future of people in England showed 60 per cent don’t even know when St George’s Day is.

It also claimed that only 40 per cent of English respondents know St George’s Day is on 23 April, compared to 71 per cent who can name US Independence Day on 4 July and 42 per cent who know that St Patrick’s Day is on 17 March.

The English, however, want to celebrate their national identity. Three quarters (76 per cent) want St George’s Day celebrated more or at least as much as St Patrick’s Day.

Just under two thirds (61 per cent) feel the flag of St George should be flown more widely across England.

A day off would also help, with four in ten citing the lack of a bank holiday when asked why St George’s Day isn’t celebrated more. Less than one in three thought it was because people didn’t care.

The new findings are released ahead of a “Festival of Englishness” on Saturday in London, jointly organised by British Future and the Institute for Public Policy Research, which will discuss and celebrate Englishness in culture, politics, comedy and sport.

British Future Director Sunder Katwala said: “Why shouldn’t we be able to celebrate Englishness? We’re all happy to come together as a nation when there’s football or cricket on, so why keep the flags in the drawer for the rest of the year?

“It’s a bit baffling that people in England will happily enjoy a pint of Guinness on St Patrick’s Day but then get nervous about celebrating St George’s Day too. We need to get over it and celebrate Englishness more.

“There’s clearly an appetite for bringing Englishness out of the stadium and into our everyday lives – but politicians have been very wary of engaging with it. It’s time they joined this national conversation.

“People think a bank holiday and flying more St George’s flags would help and it’s hard to see why anyone would disagree.”