Yesterday was St. George’s Day, in other words, the day of England’s patron saint.

From The AP (via PageOneQ.com):

April 23 is St. George’s Day, England’s national day. But it’s not a public holiday, and for decades it passed largely unnoticed — a far cry from its rowdy Irish counterpart, St. Patrick’s Day.

“We tend to be a bit more reserved. It’s an English trait,” said Janis Whincup, who attended the Trafalgar Square celebrations with a red and white St. George’s flag draped over her shoulders.

[...]

Politicians have begun to embrace Englishness. For the first time on the saint’s day, the St. George’s Cross flag flew Wednesday above the 10 Downing St. residence of Prime Minister Gordon Brown — a Scot.

“The prime minister’s view is that of course we should celebrate our Britishness,” said Brown’s spokesman, Michael Ellam. “But celebrating our Britishness does not mean we cannot also celebrate our Englishness, Scottishness, Welshness or Northern Irishness.”

There are signs of an unofficial revival, too. Pubs across the country planned celebratory roast beef dinners Wednesday. Party-supply companies reported a sharp rise in sales of red-and-white hats and streamers.

So here’s to my “Englishness,” thanks to my lovely English (and Dutch) ancestors. Any body up for a drink tonight (I know, I know… a day late, but, yes, another excuse to bring out the bottle of whatever I have).