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Celebrating St George's Day
Date Published: 21/04/2023
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Fact 1
The symbol of Saint George is a red cross on a white background. This is also the flag of England and a part of the flag of Great Britain.
Fact 2
Saint George is the patron saint of England and many other countries around the world, including Venice, Genoa, Portugal, Ethiopia and Catalonia among others.
He is also the patron Saint of scouts, farmers, shepherds, soldiers and archers.
Fact 3
He was not born in England, but in Eastern Turkey in AD 207. He and his family were Christians and lived their lives living Christian values.
Saint George never even visited England!
Fact 4
When Saint George was 17 years old, following the deaths of his father and mother, he joined the Roman Army. He travelled around the world as part of a group of soldiers who looked after the Emperor Nicomedia.
By the age of 30, Saint George was promoted to a higher rank and became an imperial Guard of the Emperor Diocletian.
Fact 5
In AD 303, the Emperor Diocletian stated that all Roman soldiers must worship Roman Gods rather than follow their Christian faith. Saint George decided to visit the Emperor to try and change his mind. The Emperor did not listen and had Saint George imprisoned and tortured for his beliefs.
Saint George did not deny his faith, continuing to spread the word of Christianity.
Fact 6
Sadly, he was beheaded near Lydda in Palestine on 23rd April in AD 303. His body was returned to Lydda where it was buried - Christians soon came to honour him as a martyr.
Saint Edmund the Martyr was the original patron saint of England. He was replaced by Saint George as the patron saint of England by King Edward III in 1350.
Fact 7
In the past, St George's Day was seen as important as Christmas Day but following the union of Scotland and England in the early 15th century, the celebrations became fewer. One custom, which many people no longer observe, is to wear a red rose on your lapel.
The Legend
The legend describes Saint George travelling to Libya, where a poison-spewing dragon was living in a lake, terrorising the local people, taking young girls chosen by lottery as sacrifices. When it fell upon the King's daughter to be sacrificed, Saint George arrived, saved her and killed the dragon.
Fact 8
There is no proof that Saint George fought a dragon. This story was first told 700 years after the death of Saint George. Instead of a real dragon it is thought that the dragon in the story represents Saint George's battle to keep his faith and values.