Saint George's Day 23rd April
St George is the patron saint of England, the 23rd of April marks the day of his death. He is believed to have been a Roman soldier under Emperor Diocletion. He became a Christian martyr when he refused to renounce his faith and was executed for it.
Although St George never visited England his reputation for virtue and chivalric ideals spread across Europe. His feast day, April 23rd, was celebrated in England from the 9th century onward.
Many paintings of St George portray him as slaying a dragon perhaps to show the triumph over evil or bravery than actually killing a mythical beast. Jacobus de Voragine wrote in his book the “Golden Legend” that St George killed the dragon to protect a maiden.
Traditionally St George’s day would have been celebrated with feast and festivities which would included Morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows.
