Cry God for Harry, England and St George!

Oh yes … the famous battle cry made famous by William Shakespeare!

But do we really know much about the history of St George’s Day?

 Probably not … especially when you consider these facts!

• Despite the fact that St. George has been the patron saint of England since the 14th century, only one in five people know that St. George’s Day falls on 23 April.
• More than a quarter of people living in England do not even know who their patron saint is!

So, who was the real St George and what did he do to become England's patron saint? St George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Romans' torture of Christians and died for his beliefs. The popularity of St George in England stems from the time of the early Crusades when it is said that the Normans saw him in a vision and were victorious.

 St. George is the patron saint of England.

His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. St George's emblem was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. The king's soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.

Dragon-Slaying Patron Saint of England

One of the best known stories about Saint George is his fight with a dragon. But it is highly unlikely that he ever fought a dragon .... and even more unlikely that he ever actually visited England. Despite this, St George is known throughout the world as the dragon-slaying patron of England.     

The History of St George’s Day

• In 1222 the Council of Oxford declared April 23rd to be St George’s Day
• It was not until 1348 that St George became the Patron Saint of England
• In 1415, St George’s Day was declared a national feast day and holiday in England
• However, after the union with Scotland at the end of the 18th Century, the tradition diminished and since has not been widely acknowledged and is no longer a national holiday
• Traditional customs were to fly the St George’s flag and wear a red rose in one’s lapel
• The hymn ‘Jerusalem’ was also sung on the 23rd April, or the nearest Sunday to that date, in churches across the nation

So, let’s raise a glass to St George’s Day! Cheers!