Let’s Celebrate St George’s Day!

23^rd April is St. George’s Day, A day to celebrate England, but how many people don’t even know when St. George’s Day is, or who St. George was? Ask your kids, see if they know the answer. It seems odd that everyone seems to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish national holiday that’s spread throughout the world, but even the English don’t celebrate St. George’s Day! Unlike St Patrick’s Day, and the Scottish equivalent, St. Andrew’s Day, St. George’s Day isn’t even a national holiday. You’d think we’d all get a nice day off work to celebrate but no, it’s just not the case.

Perhaps this will change? Make your vote

In 2011, John Penrose, minister for Tourism announced that the government was proposing to move May Day bank holiday to April 23^rd, St. George’s Day. That seems to make good sense, and if St. George’s Day became as popular in England as St. Patrick’s Day is in Ireland, it could certainly be good for tourism.

However, it’s now 2019 and it hasn’t happened yet. If you’d like to vote for St. George’s Day to be a national holiday in England, you can do so at www.stgeorgesday.com/voting-poll.

A day with a long tradition

April 23^rd was first declared as St. George’s Day in 1222. At that time, St. George wasn’t actually the Patron Saint of England, this would not happen until 1348. You may not know, but St. George’s Day actually used to be a national holiday in England. The day was declared a holiday in 1415 but due to the union of England with Scotland, this national day fell out of favour and eventually was not recognised as a national holiday at all. Isn’t it high time it was brought back?

Who was St. George?

Shrouded in myth and legend, George was born in Turkey in 270AD to Christian parents. He became a soldier in the Roman army and achieved a high ranking status. But due to the persecution of Christians by the pagan Emperor, he resigned from his military role. This resulted in tragic events and George was tortured and eventually beheaded. He never once gave up on his faith, and even the Emperor’s own wife converted to Christianity due to George’s bravery. Although she was executed for it shortly after!

What about that dragon?

The legend of George and the dragon dates back to medieval times. The story goes that local people disturbed a resting dragon and so gave it sheep to eat to pacify it. After all the sheep were gone, the locals of course offered up fair maidens, dragons do so love a good fair maiden. They decided to draw lots to decide which young lady would be the dragon’s next dinner and it turned out to be the King’s daughter. Now this wouldn’t do at all, so George set off the slay the dragon, save the Princess and become a hero for all eternity.

Inspired by the story? Then we’ve got the perfect plate for you. How about… DRA 50N?