SAINT GEORGE - PATRON SAINT OF ENGLAND

Our knowledge of St. George is a hodgepodge of fact, myth and just plain ignorance. Yet he had a great influence on the English.

THE FACTS: a tribune in the Roman army, he was beheaded in 303 for protesting the persecution of Christians. He was one of the early Christian martyrs.

THE MYTH: George and the dragon was a legend sung by medieval troubadours and acted by mummers as an allegory of good and evil. The dragon represented satan, George was the grace of God, and the princess who was saved was the captive soul.

1192 Richard I fought the Crusades under St. George's patronage and protection. The Crusaders wore the red cross of St. George on a white background. This was later adopted as the flag of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy.....

1222 Council of Oxford appointed April 23rd as the Feast of St. George.....

1350 Edward III founded the Order of the Garter under the name of St. George. St. George's Chapel, Windsor, is the official seat of the Order of the Garter.....

George became the Saint of Battles, and the Saint of Soldiers. He is also the Saint of the Cavalry (since he's the only saint who could ride) and hence of "chivalry....."

Shakespeare referred to St. George in the famous speech from Henry V:
"The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry "God for Harry! England and Saint George!".....

George is also the Patron Saint of Moscow, Georgia, Portugal and Catalonia, where it is traditional for men to give their love a red rose on April 23rd.....

In medieval times, many Guilds were founded and dedicated to St. George. The guild members went on "ridings" or processions every April 23rd.....

We give his name to St. George's Channel, the stormy part of the Irish Sea. The dangerous part of the Atlantic is known as St. George's Bank.....

If you need to borrow money, superstition says it is good luck to do so on April 23rd. And the exclamation "By George!" has become associated with the English.....

1818 the Prince Regent, later George IV, created the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George to recognize diplomatic service. Later William IV reorganized the Order into three classes: GCMG - Knight Grand Cross; KCMG - Knight Commander; and CMG - Companion.....

Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting, chose St. George as the patron of the Scouting movement, and on St. George's Day, scouts are to remember their Promise.....

1940, King George VI created the George Cross for acts of heroism. This is the second highest military decoration, and was awarded to the Island of Malta for its resistance during the WW II.....

St. George's flag has made a surprising comeback since 1996 when English football fans started waving it instead of the Union Jack. St. George's Day greetings cards were introduced in 1994, when 4,000 were sold, and more than 60,000 are now sold each year. Membership in the Royal Society of St. George has quadrupled.....

In the words of William Cook in a book review about St. George:

"You are left with a strong suspicion that, even though most of this tale is surely legend, something incredible really did happen in Palestine 1,700 years ago - well worth a round of drinks on 23 April."


If you're interested in the annual petition sent to Downing Street asking for St. George's Day to be made a Bank Holiday, it is organized by Bombadier Beer. (Not sure whether this is a conflict of interest: they are asking you to raise a glass every year on that day!) You can sign this year's petition at Bombadier Beer