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Mayor Boris Johnson led the charge in celebrating St George's Day in style today, hopping on a Routemaster bus and parading around the capital. The cross was raised at City hall to mark England's national day kicking off several days of festivities around the city. Alongside celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, they joined a colourful festival of quintessentially English food and drink at the historic Leadenhall Market, and met the people. The Mayor revelled in the rediscovered enthusiasm for our patron saint after years of neglect by predecessor Ken Livingstone. Boris said: "At last, the country is getting excited about St George's Day, without embarrassment or fear of reproach, for England has so much to be proud of. Where better to celebrate our patron saint than in the English capital? London, the city that draws people from across the UK and around the world - the city that throughout the year is proud to showcase the many cultures and communities that call our great city home. What better time than St George's Day to bring us all together to express the pride we have in our country." Noting that today coincides with William Shakespeare's birthday "encapsulates one of the greatest things England has given to the world - the English language," he added. Boris paid tribute to our spirit and urged Londoners "raise a flag, if not a glass for our patron saint."
Events
There has been enormous interest in this year's St George's Day celebrations, not just in London, but around the country. This Saturday sees a major music concert in Trafalgar Square headlined by award-winning musician Seth Lakeman and featuring a range of acclaimed musicians finding innovative ways to express music inspired by English folk traditions, including Eliza Carthy, Jim Moray, Kathryn Tickell and Bishi. Running from 12:30pm-6pm, it is a unique opportunity to hear some fine music for free. Shakespeare’s birthday party The Globe at Bankside hosts a huge party celebrating the birthday of the Bard himself with special workshops, games and activities. Visitors also have the chance to hear Globe actors recite some of Shakespeare's sonnets, and go on a guided walk of Shakespearean London. The birthday events take place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April, and on St Georges Day, Thursday 23rd April 2009 you can see one of Shakespeare's most well loved plays, Romeo and Juliet, at the start of the new theatre season at The Globe.
St Georges Day for kids
Plenty of museums, galleries and London venues are putting on special events for kids and families around St Georges Day, with arts and crafts workshops and live performances to keep everyone happy. Choose from Punch and Judy shows, Morris and Maypole dancing and dragon making at places such as the V&A Museum of Childhood and the Royal Air Force Museum. Festival for St George at St Georges Gardens Live music plus dance performed by the Bollywood Bangles dance company will be accompanied by traditional Punch and Judy plays at the free event in St Georges Gardens. Cake stalls and medieval style archery will also feature at this lively St Georges Day London event. St Georges Day pub grub The Prince Albert in Camden traditionally puts on some delicious fare for those in need of patriotic sustenance. On this year's menu, you can choose from a variety of great English pies, washed down with a pint of English ale for just £10.95. Music at Royal Albert Hall Head to the Royal Albert Hall for a patriotic evening of music as Leslie Phillips introduces Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and other English classic pieces. Rousing music coupled with stirring readings from John Betjeman and Shakespeare will make for a fantastic ending to the day. St George at the National Gallery One of the most famous images of St George fighting the dragon is on display in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Many tourists and Londoners will be keen to see the man in the armour doing his bit on St Georges Day, and if you do go along to see Tintoretto's version of Saint George and the Dragon, you can check out the painting in the gallery on 23rd April for free and also see a live English folk and drama performance by the Suffolk Howlers. And there's always the pub! All of us here at The London Daily News would like to wish all our supporters and activists a happy St. George’s Day. Public information can be found at: www.london.gov.uk/gla/events/apr-09.jsp.
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