ThenUnited Kingdom is made up of Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, andnEngland. Each has its “patron saint”—a figure that is said tonprotect that country and its people. For England, that patron saintnis St. George.
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n(Bynthe way, St. George is considered the patron saint of severalndifferent countries and cities around the world.)
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nDetailsnabout the “real” St. George’s life are very uncertain (hisnexistence as a historical person isn’t certain), but legend has itnthat he was born in what is now Turkey, in the 200s. He was supposednto have later lived in Palestine, where he became a Roman soldier.nThe legends tell us that the reason he is a saint is because he was anChristian who faced persecution and eventually death for his religion.
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nAnothernfamous legend tells us that St. George saved a maiden and/or ankingdom from a poison-spewing dragon. This story has become verynfamiliar partly because several artists chose to paint or sculpt thendramatic fight between armored soldier and dragon.
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Celebrate!
Celebrate!n
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nInnSalisbury, there is a traditional St. George’s Day pageant. In othernplaces, people enjoy morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows. Peoplenoften combine the feast day with festivities in honor of playwrightnWilliam Shakespeare (check out the post about Shakespeare’s birthdaynbelow). An old-time tradition that is rarely followed today isnwearing a red rose (check out the Day of the Rose post below). n
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nHerenis a website, created for a school project, that features the Legendnof St. George Slaying the Dragon.
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nHerenare free resources for celebrating St. George’s Day, including thenstory of St. George and the dragon, posters, and coloring sheets.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nPhysicist Max Planck’s birthday
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nThenDay of the Rose and the Day of the Book in Spain
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nPlaywrightnand poet William Shakespeare’s birthday (?)
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