St George's Day

St George's day is on the 23rd April. It is England's national day.

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 flag was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century.

Like England, every country in the UK has it's own patron saint who in times of great peril is called upon to help save the country from it's enemies.

St George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Roman's torture of Christians and died for his beliefs. Saint George is popularly identified with England and English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry, but actually he wasn't English at all. Very little is known about the man who became St George.

St George is patron saint not only of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine and Portugal amongst others although celebrated on different days. He is also patron saint of scouts, soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers.

One of the best known stories about St 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 saint of England!

Interesting fact!
Shakespeare was born on 23rd April 1564 and also died on the same day in 1616.