Saint George

Saint George the Patron Saint of England

Although the name of Saint George is connected with brave deeds both civil and military how sad that the country who adopted him as their patron saint seems to have forgotten him.
Saint George's Day is on April 23, so, in a sense, this is England's National Day but unlike other countries, England does not have a celebration to mark this occasion.

English Rose

This quote by Sir Winston Churchill might explain the looks of confusion I get when I declare,
“I am not British I am English from Great Britain”.

"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word,
which means more to me than any other.
That word is ENGLAND."

This quote reminded me that the British Government was instrumental in de-nationalizing its citizens, with the European passport issued in 1988 English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish was no longer recognized as a nationality only British, to appease the public who objected strongly to this, Country of Birth was added. Unlike the United States you will not see Great Britain’s national flag abundantly displayed, the patriotic citizen is encouraged to fly their Country flag (each of the four countries has a flag and three of the four are represented in the Union Flag of Great Britain commonly known as the Union Jack).
Shakespeare endeavored to immortalize Saint George, with the famous phrase from King Henry V’s pre-battle speech, ‘Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!’ King Henry was thought by his followers to possess many of the saint’s characteristics. I am as guilty as many others for forgetting Saint George’s Day and not knowing that much about him beyond the story of him slaying a dragon, rescuing a princess and thereby gaining the gratitude of her father the King for all eternity. After doing some research I do not feel quite so bad.
Historians seem to agree that he lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian and came from Cappadociain modern day Turkey, in about the year 280 AD, descended from a glorious and well-known family. This reference from the twelfth-century credits him with slaying a dragon on the flat topped Dragon Hill in Uffington, Berkshire and it is said that no grass grows where the dragon’s blood trickled down! (historians have not been able to verify that he ever visited England even though his name was known there as early as the eighth-century. As a soldier in the Roman Army during the later part of their occupation of England the timeline makes it possible that he could have done "A Tour of Duty in England"). I found many references stating that he slayed a dragon in the city of Cyrene in Libya or the city of Lydda, depending on the source. Which could refer to his documented defiance of his Emperor, not as romantic but still very brave. When the Emperor Diocletian started a persecution against the Christians, he issued a royal decree stating that those who deny Christ should be worthy of royal honors, while all those who refuse to deny Christ would be punished with death. When Saint George a high ranking officer in the Roman army received these orders, he declared that he was a Christian and he criticized the delusion of the idols mocking those who believed in them. Diocletian's threats, intimidation and even torture did not shake the Saint's belief. Many people came to Christ seeing the braveness of Saint George and the denouncement of the pagan idols. After many tortures, St George, having defended his faith was beheaded at Nicomedia near Lyddia in Palestine on the 23rd of April in the year 303 AD. As for his dragon slaying exploits, I’m sure the story itself was meant to illustrate the triumph of good over evil and that his dragon was the devil or maybe even the Emperor.
His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is said to have been adopted by Richard The Lion heart in the 12th century and Richard II extended its use. When George was adopted as the Patron Saint of England in 1415 his emblem became the national flag. The pennant of the Cross of Saint George was flown by John Cabot when he sailed to Newfoundland, by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh and the Mayflower when it arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 carrying the Pilgrim Fathers. It is known throughout Christendom as the flag of the Church of England.	Flag of St George
Many regiments of the Army still celebrate Saint George's Day with great ceremony. In Barcelona, Spain it is traditional to give a book as a token of Saint George's Day, whilst in Russia and the Ukraine the day is celebrated by Spring Festivals and Picnics to celebrate the end of winter. In the world of Scouting, it is the first day for camping.
Trivia: Shakespeare was born on Saint George’s Day 1564, and if the story is to be believed, died on Saint George’s Day 1616.


Flag of England