British American Group - Saint George

Background

The folktale of St. George the dragon slayer found its place in the religions of several regions of Europe and Asia Minor, and accounts may vary based on local tradition. He serves as the saint of England, Georgia, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Catalonia. In England it is the National Day, which is celebrated April 23, the date of Saint George's death in 303 A.D.

According to the legend, a dragon makes its nest at the spring which provides a city with water. The citizens therefore had find a way to temporarily remove the dragon from its nest in order to collect water. To do this, they offered the dragon a daily human sacrifice. The victim of the day was chosen by a lottery. The unfortunate person who was chosen for the deed this particular day was the local princess. She is offered to the dragon but, at the last moment, the heroic George arrives. He ran it through with a lance and saved the princess. The grateful citizens abandon their ancestral Paganism and convert to Christianity.

It is believed his adoption as the English patron saint occurred when a church in Doncaster was dedicated to him in 1061. Crusaders also probably returned with accounts of the respect paid to him in the Middle East.

Tradition

Knighthoods of the Order of the Garter are bestowed on 23rd April. A red rose is associated with this day, although the saint's colour is in fact blue (after the shade of the original garter) and it is traditional to wear something blue.

St. George frequently appears in Mummers' Plays during Easter and Christmas celebrations. He is also the patron saint of Norwich in Norfolk,and his day was at one time known as Mayor's Day. Here a procession would wind its way through the town, with an elaborately costumed dragon (called 'Snap') at its head. The oldest surviving Snap costume can still be viewed in Norwich Castle Museum.

Numerous St George's Day festivities still take place in many English towns and villages, including fairs at Bewdley, Hatfield and Lichfield.

Flying the Flag for England

The Cross of St. George is the flag of England (white flag with a red cross). The flag bearing his cross was England's first "national" flag. During the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the Cross of St. George also became the basic English naval flag.

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