Britishy

April 23 - tis a very British day

Happy St. George's Day! And happy approximate birthday to my dearest friend, the Bard! 

(William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564 and so the powers-at-be decided to celebrate his birthday on the 23rd because of St. George's Day; he died on April 23, 1616.)

In celebration, I have compiled a few songs, video clips, photos, and texts for a taste of all things Britishy. 

Elgar's Enigma Variations - "Nimrod"

Google Doodle is joining the festivities as well (although only in the UK I believe)! See the article from The Independent: Google Doodle honours St George's Day 2013

Source: The Independent

St. Crispin's Day Speech from Henry V (no, it's not St. George's Day, but you really can't get anything more Britishy than this famous speech)

KING. What’s he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say “These wounds I had on Crispian’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

And here is Kenneth Branagh performing the speech.

(points if you can find the young Christian Bale) 

Anne Hathaway's House in Stratford-upon-Avon

Jammy Dodger, anyone?

British flags on Bond Street (or somewhere nearby)

"The White Cliffs of Dover" - sung by Vera Lynn

For more Britishy goodness, see my Lois in London blog post from last year's St. George's Day: St. George's Day Gala