Did You Know?

• St. George’s day is on 23^rd April and it is England’s national day.

• St George is the patron saint of England and he is often identified with English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry.

• It is believed that St. George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Roman’s torture of Christians and died for his beliefs.

• St George is always depicted as a knight carrying a shield with a red cross (or a banner with a red cross) generally sitting upon a horse.  

• One of the best-known stories about St. George is his fight with a dragon but it is highly unlikely he ever fought a dragon.

• St. George is the Patron Saint of Scouting and on the Sunday nearest to 23^rd April scouts and guides throughout England parade thorough the streets.

• The national emblem and flower for England is the red rose.

• St. George frequently appears in Mummers plays – folk dramas based on the legend of St. George. Mumming is best described as early pantomime and the plays are based loosely on the legend of St. George and the dragon to show the struggle between good and evil.

• Shakespeare was born, and died, on St. George’s Day