St. George’s Day is also known as the Feast of Saint George. As well as England, St. George is a Patron Saint of several countries: Portugal; Cyprus; Georgia; Serbia; Bulgaria; Bosnia & Herzegovin, and the Republic of Macedonia, all of who fly the red cross flag on the day.
St. George is also the patron saint of The Scout Movement, which has held St. George’s Day parades by Scouts (and now Girl Guides) since its first years.
Not much is known about Saint George’s early life, and what is known has been argued for centuries. It is believed that he was probably born to noble birth, around 280 AD in Cappodocia (Turkey) and died on 23rd April in Lydda, Syria Palaestina, an area which is now in modern-day Israel.
The myth of St. George & the Dragon became popularised around the time of the Crusades who brought back tales of a dragon-slaying Christian who saved a princess and her village from the flesh eating monster. It is said that the local villagers had offered up sheep everyday to appease the monster, but when that failed they tried feeding it their children, chosen by lottery! Until, on one occasion, it happened that the lot fell on the king’s daughter. Distraught with grief, the King told the people they could have all his gold and silver and half of his kingdom if his daughter was spared. His people refused and the daughter was sent out to the lake, decked out as a bride, to be fed to the dragon…
By chance, George rode past the lake. Noticing him, the dragon charged for George, who fortified himself with the Sign of the Cross and charged on horseback delivering a grievous wound. With the dragon harnessed, George rode the princess back to the village, subsequently telling the villagers that he would only kill the dragon if they all became Christians. Unwilling to subject themselves back to the terror of the dragon, the king and his people agreed to convert to Christianity and George slew the dragon. On the site where the dragon died, the king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. George, and from its altar a spring arose whose waters cured all disease.
George became a solider, and ultimately an officer, in the Roman army under Emperor Diocletian. When the Emperor ordered the systematic persecution of Christians. George refused to take part, which resulted in his torture and subsequent death on 23rd April 303 AD. The Emperor’s wife was so inspired by George’s bravery and loyalty to his religion, that she too became a Christian and was subsequently executed for her faith.
The earliest documented mention of St. George in England comes from the Catholic monk the venerable Bede (c. 673–735). His feast day is also mentioned in the Durham Collectar, a ninth-century liturgical work. The will of Alfred the Great is said to refer to the saint, in a reference to the church of Fordington, Dorset. At Fordington a stone over the south door records the miraculous appearance of to lead crusaders into battle. Early (c. 10th century) dedications of churches to St. George are noted in England, for example as well as Fordingham, Dorset, at Thetford, Southwark and Doncaster.
It is both a Royal Peculiar, that is a Church of England parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the Diocese and the province in which it lies and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch. It was where the funeral of H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh took place in 2021.
The motto in gold lettering ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ translates as “Shame on him who thinks evil of it.
St. George’s Day was a major feast and national holiday in England on a par with Christmas from the early 15th century. The tradition of celebration St. George’s Day had waned by the end of the 18th century after the union of England and Scotland in 1707.
It is customary for the hymn “Jerusalem” to be sung in cathedrals, churches and chapels on St. George’s Day, or on the Sunday closest to it. Traditional English food and drink is likely to be be consumed.
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