norwaysaint Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 It's Norway's tomorrow and anybody who's lived over here will know that every single person in the country will be out on the streets tomorrow either watching or taking part in a parade. There will be flags everywhere, the majority will be in national dress and the cities and towns will be full of marching bands and celebrations. It is huge and the people here get excited about it like no other day of the year. Is it the sort of thing that could ever happen in Britain? I think maybe not for a variety of reasons. Firstly there's the sad habit of people being unable to be proud of the country and culture without feeling they have to show hostility to other nations and cultures at the same time. Here you will find people cheering as groups parade representing all different cultures and sections of society, last year there was some kind of Malay society behind us, there was also a band of bagpipers and another band from Northern Ireland, but the parade is full of immigrants joining in and just celebrating enjoying living in this country and being cheered on while they do. A lot of British people take a large dose of hatred of immigrants into their patriotism. Secondly, it's a day for children. They get spoiled, get to wear their national costumes, eat ice cream and generally get made to feel special all day. They grow up into citizens who love to celebrate their country every year and can't help but get excited over it. I never hear people who want a British national day talking about it being for the children. Thirdly of course is the need to celebrate the national identity. Norway has in the past been under both Danish and Swedish rule and was occupied by the nazis during the war. People here don't take the idea of having their own country and freedoms for granted. I hope I'm wrong and one day Britain/England will learn how to celebrate it's better sides. Anyone else here live in a country with a national day have similar experiences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 (edited) Empire Day was the last great occasion we had along these lines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLqvzISwetI Edited 16 May, 2011 by dune Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 We would not be allowed a national day in case it offended someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish fingers Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I went to Norway, it was very expensive. £7 for a Mcdonalds cheeseburger and chips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I went to Norway, it was very expensive. £7 for a Mcdonalds cheeseburger and chips. You mean fries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 We have a National Day. The local kidss all get to dress up their 4x4's and Ferraris with flags and tie Lion Cubs to the bonnet with Duct Tape and drive round at 250kph beeping their horns and stuff. The youngsters all have face painting and special cultural events at Schools and Colleges (and that part is sweet (NOT in a condescending way) as it helps them keep their heritage and culture for a last few months until the teenagers turn into Gangsta Rappers or Beauty Salon/Nail Spa addicts). We expats? We all join together every year, some 50,000 of us and get bladdered. Yep, the Rugby 7's is always over National Day weekend and so we get the day off and also get to see some locals doing sky-diving and camel processions.. Truth is, jokes aside, it IS a special day where heritage and culture is remembered and where we also get a gentle reminder of where we are. But then you can't possibly have it in the UK anymore, you're not alllowed to have a heritage, only guilt. Culture gets mixed up with Art and you end up with the annual compromise which always seems to be Morris Dancers. Which is to be honest, a shame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Is it ok to take pride in your country? I usually frown upon these sorts of events because flag waving, saying we're great translates to me as "We're better than you over there (including the foreigners who happen to live here). I am also suspicious of borders generally and think they're inherently unfair, keeping the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. Sure it seems fair for the people who live inside the border that all the good stuff should remain all theirs, but what about those that live outside. It is a birthright, and entitlements because of birth are the sort of 'rights' that fair people try to move away from. However I'm not naive enough to think we could just tear down the borders and live harmoniously, nor would I want that. If asked, the things I like about England, and would be prepared to celebrate are: Largely accepting of multiculturalism, if begrudgingly. Largely secular, or at least much less superstitious than most countries. Democratic, despite its flaws. Nice selection of food, especially the foreign stuff. Taking advice/laws from the European Court of Human Rights I like the people here, but probably just because I'm used to their ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 16 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I agree that just blind "proud to be British/Norwegian/etc" is a silly idea, but a good celebration isn't like that. it's almost a demonstration of gratitude for what you've got. In Norway's case, getting back their freedom after occupation and foreign rule, but also thankfulness for living in a country that has been good to you. I get to celebrate being an Englishman in Norway and what that means to me. It's a welcoming and inclusive festival, rather than one which celebrates its borders. SF, you are wrong about it being a birthright and entitlement because of birth and I would think the reasons are pretty clear here and in the OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 It's true. I think the sort of celebration I am alluding to sounds very different to the one you describe. Just you remember though, deep down, you're one of us, and you know it. Despite your strange ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Empire Day was the last great occasion we had along these lines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLqvzISwetI Ah yes, nothing is sweeter than rejoicing in the torture, slavery and suffering of millions. RULE BRITANNIA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holepuncture Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 But then you can't possibly have it in the UK anymore, you're not alllowed to have a heritage, only guilt. Culture gets mixed up with Art and you end up with the annual compromise which always seems to be Morris Dancers. Which is to be honest, a shame Quality! Spot on, spot on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 It wouldn't be possible to have a 'UK National Day' now would it. However, we do have St Patrick's Day, St Andrew's Day and St George's Day (although he was a foreigner, I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 16 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I don't think the problem is that "they" wouldn't allow a national day, or that it's not allowed to have a heritage. I think the problem is in so many people's inability to be inclusive in a national day. I think too many people would want to celebrate Britain's borders instead of having a day where immigrants are a big part of the day, like here. There have been a couple of posts referring to empire already, that's wallowing in a lost past rather than being thankful for the good of the country you're living in now. Here, 17th of May does a lot to improve and cement good relations between immigrants and "natural" Norwegians. It could work in Britain, but a lot of people would have to put their pettiness aside and embrace what Britain is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellboypete Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I worked in Trondheim for a year and experienced their National Day - it was Trondheim 900th anniversary and the King and his family came up and did a walk around the city centre. There was no obvious security and they just wandered around chatting to people as if it was just normal day. The only other normal thing was that it was a public holiday so everyone got plastered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I worked in Trondheim for a year and experienced their National Day - it was Trondheim 900th anniversary and the King and his family came up and did a walk around the city centre. There was no obvious security and they just wandered around chatting to people as if it was just normal day. The only other normal thing was that it was a public holiday so everyone got plastered. Sadly that couldn't happen in Britain. 60 years ago it probably could have as the only real threat was from Irish republicans. Now we have Millitant Islamists to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Going back to here, they see it as a celebration. The damned place is only 42 years old, it changes weekly but they can still celebrate what it means to be an Emirati. While 50,000 get bladdered each time, we DO get involved in National Day, kids at shcools from all nationalities help get things ready and like I said we get the camels parade and teh 50k give it by far the biggest cheer of the weekend. It isn'y OUR culture & heritage but it we actually make an impact. The problem with the UK is the polarisation of understanding. A National Day does not HAVE to be about Rule Brittania, the Village Fetes would be as Bristish today by having Chicken Tikka & Wine stalls as they would a beer tent & Pies. Again, the PROBLEM with the "guilt trip" is still that it ignores the fact that that very history that everyone feels guilty about is what made the place what it now is (Oh yeah well...) The rights benefits freedoms and institutions that immigrants want exist in UK because of that history. This place has no history so has - Labour Camps, Dodgy Property Laws, going to Jail for giving a finger for a year.... The Olympics next year will, like the Royal Wedding, be about celebrating what is great TODAY about Britain. But again, so many people spend their lives being depressed and would insist that actually there isn't anything to celebrate any more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atticus Finch of Maycomb Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 But then you can't possibly have it in the UK anymore, you're not alllowed to have a heritage, only guilt. Culture gets mixed up with Art and you end up with the annual compromise which always seems to be Morris Dancers. Which is to be honest, a shame It is a shame, but at least we still have freedom of expression: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 You mean fries. Yes, please. And I'll go large. You are good at this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 It wouldn't be possible to have a 'UK National Day' now would it. However, we do have St Patrick's Day, St Andrew's Day and St George's Day (although he was a foreigner, I think). What about Dewi Sant ? ( That's St David for the uninitiated ). St George was apparently Syrian, St Andrew was from Galilee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 (edited) St George has patronage in Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, England, Georgia, India, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Ossetia, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and the United States. Edited 16 May, 2011 by SuperMikey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 What about Dewi Sant ? ( That's St David for the uninitiated ). St George was apparently Syrian, St Andrew was from Galilee. Hardly surprising. I've visited father christmas's church in Turkey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 it is a shame, but at least we still have freedom of expression: watch out, he has lawyers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorpe-le-Saint Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Oh who gives a ****. The only people that care about these sorts of things often have so little going on in their own lives that in order to feel special and part of a community they desire some overblown flag waving. Grow up and go find some friends FFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Oh who gives a ****. The only people that care about these sorts of things often have so little going on in their own lives that in order to feel special and part of a community they desire some overblown flag waving. Grow up and go find some friends FFS. I'm pretty interested in this sort of thing, to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 16 May, 2011 Share Posted 16 May, 2011 I'm pretty interested in this sort of thing, to be honest. Only because it gives you lots of material to work with... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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