Ronglimeng From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 624 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1021 times:
I'm not Welsh, but happy St. David's Day to those who are.
Admittedly most of my notions of Wales are based on Hollywood depictions, but I have good impressions of the country and the people. I hope they're reasonably accurate.
Besides, I always think that winter is starting to end when the calendar flips over to March.
Speedbirdie From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 899 posts, RR: 56 Reply 1, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1015 times:
Where is Wales?
Signed
The UK....
Now seriously, I bet that if a survey was conducted amongst the British Population on when St Georges Day was, most people wouldn't know. If you asked the SAME question about when St Patricks Day is, they would know.
I dont know why I said that, I think I'm bored....
Who is but the form following the function of what, and what I am, is a Woman in a mask..
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1013 times:
Quoting Speedbirdie (Reply 1): I bet that if a survey was conducted amongst the British Population on when St Georges Day was, most people wouldn't know.
And why should they? Is it really that important? Britain is the only (I just know someone's going to correct me here ) major country in the world not to have a national holiday. It's the way it should be, in my view, and the English,Scots and Welsh all going "Errr.....not sure" when asked what day their patron saints day is, is perfect!
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Antdenatale From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2006, 172 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1008 times:
I tend to agree with Speedbirdie, Ask anyone in Ireland / Wales / Scotland when their Saints day is and they will be able to tell you. However, for some reason England seems to be different. Heck, even I am not sure when St Georges day is!!
It is all down to clever marketing, the main reason people know about St Patrick's day is becuase of the marketing of a certain black Irish Stout!
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 5, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1006 times:
Quoting Antdenatale (Reply 4): Heck, even I am not sure when St Georges day is!!
April 23rd, which is also Shakespeare's birthday. Now, THAT is worth commemorating, not some mythical figure who'd probably never even heard of some island off the coast of France.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Antdenatale From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2006, 172 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 998 times:
Thanks Banco, I will put it in my diary now for future reference. Never saw the appeal of Shakespear myself, went to Stratford last year and saw the 'Scottish Play' and Mrs D was impressed but it left me wondering what all the fuss was about....... You can take the boy from the Valley's but never the Valley's from the boy I guess
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 8, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 990 times:
Quoting Antdenatale (Reply 7): Never saw the appeal of Shakespear myself, went to Stratford last year and saw the 'Scottish Play' and Mrs D was impressed but it left me wondering what all the fuss was about.......
At least you went to see it. One of the things that does my head in is the way schoolchildren are given dry texts and expected to spot the magic somehow. It's crazy, Shakespeare was written to be performed and seen.
As to his importance, it's on several levels: he's the single most important person in the history of the English language, coining more than 2,000 brand new (or at least, first published) words on his own, plus putting together combinations of words that no-one had ever thought of - for example "ill-used". Shakespeare, more than any other single person is modern English. Shakespeare's plays used a variety of language unmatched, his own vocabulary was bigger than some entire languages! We use Shakespeare every day of our lives, mostly without even realising it: you don't "budge an inch", or play "fast and loose" or vanish "into thin air", "cruel to be kind", "more in sorrow than in anger" - it's absolutely endless. If you talk about quotability alone, Shakespeare is in a league of his own, no-one comes anywhere near.
And this is even before you get to the sheer quality of his work. The writing is utterly stunning, the poetry simply the best ever written in English. I can't tell you to like it, any more than I can tell you why my favourite band is better than yours, but Shakespeare commands the language and the stage, unlike anyone before or since.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 624 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 899 posts, 
) major country in the world not to have a national holiday. It's the way it should be, in my view, and the English,Scots and Welsh all going "Errr.....not sure" when asked what day their patron saints day is, is perfect!
From UK - England, joined Oct 2005, 3184 posts, 
From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, 
From UK - Scotland, joined Jun 2000, 24621 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
