Happy Birthday Rabbie

Today is the birthday of Scottish Poet Laureate Robert Burns who was born in 1759. Some 253 years later families all over Scotland, and around the world, will be celebrating by eating traditional Scottish food, and reciting Burns’ poetry.

It’s not only the Scots that celebrate their heritage though, all over the world cultures and traditions are celebrated, from Independence days or Liberation Days to Thanksgiving days and festivals of light such as Diwali or Loi Krathong, but we’ve been sitting here trying to think of the traditional things that the English specifically, as a nation, celebrate.

Religion? Christmas seems to be all about the gifts, as can be seen by the Christmas trees being pulled down before we have seen the New Year in, let alone waiting for twelfth night or Epiphany; and Easter is now all about the eggs!

History? Trafalgar Day isn’t celebrated en-masse, D-Day and VE Day are not celebrated, although Remembrance Sunday can almost guarantee a good parade in towns and cities across United Kingdom.

People? St George’s Day is not properly honoured, as he’s only a mythical figure. In fact you are more likely to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in England than you are St George’s Day.

So are we English ambivalent about celebrating heritage, culture and victories, or is the multicultural nature of society diluting our identify? Should April 23rd be a National Holiday, perhaps instead of the early May Bank Holiday? We'd love to hear about the traditions you and your family celebrate, or the holidays you would like to initiate.