Happy St George’s Day to you!
As a race or nation, we English seem somewhat reluctant to embrace our heritage and to display our patriotism.
It seems we need a major event like the Royal Wedding in 2011 or the World Cup or the Olympics to dust off our Union Flags, but even then, this is celebrating being British, not being English, isn’t it?
Why are so many other countries far more open with their pride in their country and their flag? I appreciate there were times when the Cross of St George was adopted by the Far Right as a symbol. However, I believe mainstream society has shown just how we can integrate different cultures and religions pretty seamlessly into our own, so why should we feel reticent about displaying pride in our nation?
To address this, I wish to mark St George’s Day this year by focusing on a subject close to my own heart, namely the English Rose. Although I am not talking about the thorny variety here……
What makes a true English beauty?
Of course we will all have our own definition of what makes a quintessential English Lady, but I will have a stab at naming what I believe are some of the main traits. Here are my views:
- Fair skin
- Small nose
- Freckles
- A certain elegance
What about hair and eye colour? Is there a typically English style? What about figure shape? Again, many of these will be down to one’s own preference.
I particularly like a lady with a certain deportment and confidence to her, not brashness or arrogance, but an unassuming belief in herself. I like to see a lady who can carry herself in any situation, who is as happy in the mud of Glastonbury as she is in a sparkling evening dress and heels; A lady who is confident in her sexuality and knows what she enjoys and how to get it, yet without being slutty.
But don’t roses have thorns too?
Whoever said it had to be easy?! Of course a Rose will have its thorns, but I do believe, with the right kind of balanced personality, a little “pain” is mitigated by the pleasure!
The key with a rose is the thorns face one way, so by not rubbing them the wrong way, much of the discomfort can be avoided. Surely this metaphor applies to the feminine rose too?
I appreciate there is much more to an English Rose than I have summarised, but this is my ode to the beautiful ladies of this sceptred isle.
To all of you beautiful English roses (and the true English gents), I wish you a happy St George’s Day!
“For England and St. George!”