Saint Swithun in popular culture
Saint Swithun has appeared many times in popular culture.
- English folk singer Billy Bragg released a song entitled "St. Swithin's Day" on his 1984 LP Brewing Up with Billy Bragg. This was covered by Dubstar on Disgraceful in 1995.
- St. Swithin's Day is a comic book written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Paul Grist.
- On the show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, King Richard sends a post card to say that he was due to return on 'Saint Swithin's Day', which was that very day.
- On the show Frasier, Roz mockingly asks Frasier if he and Niles are playing their zithers at the Renaissance Fair, to which he replies, "Roz, the Renaissance Fair is a fortnight after St. Swithin's Day." ("Cranes Unplugged")
- David Knopfler has a song named "A Clear Day (St. Swithun's Day)" on his 2001 Wishbones album.
- St. Swithun's Day is also mentioned as the birthday of Dracula in Roky Erickson's song "Night of the Vampire". Erickson himself was born on St. Swithun's Day, 1947.
- St. Swithun's shrine in Winchester Cathedral is mentioned in An Excellent Mystery, one of the Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters.
- In Anglican/Episcopal circles, a generic name for "any church" is "St Swithin's", or sometimes "St Swithin's in the Swamp," frequently stated to be a parish in the also generic "Diocese of Woppitysplash."
- The fictitious St Swithin's Hospital appears in the British comedy series Doctor in the House and other related comedies.
- In Virginia Woolf's final novel, Between the Acts, a character called Mrs Swithin prays for sunshine whilst fingering a crucifix - unknowingly bearing the name of a rain-bearing saint.
- In A Knight's Tale, Wat is frustrated with "Sir" Ulrich losing on purpose, to prove his love to a woman, and asks "Why in the name of St. Swithin are we doing this?"
- In The Dark Knight Rises, Gotham City's orphanage is named "St. Swithin's".
- In One Day by David Nicholls the two main characters repeatedly meet on St Swithen's Day over a period of twenty years. The book's acknowledgments credit the Billy Bragg song with inspiration.
- Bart, in The Simpsons episode "Bart of Darkness" (season 6, episode 1), says: "All right, you're right, you're right, let's, let's just forget about that. Here: let me read to you from my play. Ahem. [cockney] `Kippers for breakfast, Aunt Helga? Is it St. Swithin's Day already?' `'Tis,' replied Aunt Helga."
- In The Sopranos season 2 episode 11, Bobby Baccala says "The disposal? I told you, I gotta get the flange." To which Junior Soprana replies: "When, St. Swithun's Day?"
- In the season two premiere of Sports Night, Dana jokingly asks Casey if he was waiting for St. Swithin's Day to ask her out.[1]
- In the Monkey Island video series Guybrush Threepwood notes that he needs some "St. Swithins Day gifts."
- Santa Clarita Diet Season 3 Episode 9. Abby swears in the oath to become an heir to a Knightship of Serbia that she will observe 'no holiday from my burdens, save the eve of St. Swithen's Day'
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.