Primary Assembly: St George’s Day

Resources

• St George’s flag 
• St Andrew’s flag
• Union flag
• Welsh flag

Introduction
This week / Thursday / today is St George’s Day. Saint George is the patron saint of England. You might have seen his flag being waved around at football matches: it’s white with a red cross [show picture].

The flag is a symbol of being English – not British. Wales, Ireland, Scotland and even Cornwall all have their own national flags. People who are English fly the Cross of St George when they want to be patriotic and show support for their country, which is why you’ll often see the white and red flag fluttering gaily at sporting matches.

Both Saint George and his flag have a very interesting history, as Richard was about to find out.

St George’s story
’Happy St George’s Day, Richard!’ said his grandfather.

’Sorry?’ said Richard. ’What’s “St George’s Day”? I thought today was a Thursday?’

’It is a Thursday,’ laughed his grandfather, ’but it’s also St George’s Day. You must have heard of St George – he’s England’s patron saint!’

’Yes, I think so,’ said Richard. ‘Wasn’t he the one that killed a dragon?’

’Well, that’s the legend,’ said his grandfather, ‘but the real story is far more interesting.’

’So he was a real person then?’ said Richard, who looked surprised. He hadn’t really thought about saints being real, especially ones who killed dragons.

’Of course he was real,’ said his grandfather. ’He was a Roman soldier and he lived about 200 years after the time of Jesus. He was one of the very earliest Christians and he died for his faith. The Roman Emperor Diocletian had been worried by how powerful this new religion Christianity was becoming, so he tried to insist that any soldiers in his army who were Christians had to renounce their faith (that means give it up).’

‘What religion was Diocletian?’ asked Richard.

’He was a pagan,’ said his grandfather. ‘He prayed to the Roman gods and goddesses, like Apollo and Venus.’

’Why was he scared of the Christians?’ asked Richard.

‘Good question,’ said his grandfather. ’I think he just wanted to show that he was more powerful than any religion by forcing every Christian to give his religion up. George refused. Diocletian had him tortured but he still refused to give it up so Diocletian had him killed, on 23rd April 303 AD. He was a martyr and, in time, he became a saint.’

’So he was born in Britain?’ said Richard.

’No, not at all,’ said his grandfather. ’His mother was Palestinian and his father was born in Cappadocia and he was brought up in Palestine as a Roman.’

‘So how come he’s the patron saint of England?’ said Richard.

’Actually he’s the patron saint of quite a few places. I’ll look it up. [Pause] Gosh! There’s lots of them. George is the patron saint of: Aragon and Catalonia in Spain; Ethiopia in Africa; Georgia; Greece; Lithuania; Portugal and Russia in Europe; and Palestine in the Middle East. And that’s not all − he’s the patron saint of quite a few cities, too: Amersfoort in Holland; Beirut in Lebanon – there’s a few here I can’t even pronounce – oh, look and Genoa and Moscow, too. Wow! He was a busy guy. He’s also the patron saint of Scouting and skin diseases!’

’Yeuch!’ said Richard. ‘That sounds gross!’

’Not really.’ said his grandfather,’You get eczema so Saint George is your patron saint, too!’

’So how do people celebrate St George’s Day?’ asked Richard.

’Some people wear red roses – ok, you don’t have to – some hang St George’s flag from their windows or on their cars, and others wear white T-shirts with the cross of St George on them. It used to be a special feast day with as much food as at Christmas. I think it’s a shame that we don’t do that anymore. But one big event that happens every Saint George’s Day is that the Scouts have a big parade through the streets and then have a special ceremony at their local church.’

’So where does the dragon come in?’ said Richard.

’Ah well, we always think of Saint George killing a dragon,’ said his grandfather, ’but really the dragon was a metaphor for anything evil.’

’I don’t want to wear a rose,’ said Richard, wrinkling his nose, ‘but it would be great if we could hang a flag out of the window to celebrate being English.’

’You can, if you like,’ said his grandfather, ’but I was born in Scotland so my patron saint is Andrew and his special day is 30th November. His flag is blue with a diagonal white cross on it. In fact, if you put the cross of St George on top of the cross Saint Andrew, and put those on top of the St Patrick’s flag for Ireland which is a diagonal red cross, you get the Union flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.’

’What about Wales?’ said Richard. ’What’s their flag like?’

’Oh, their flag is really something,’ said his grandfather. ’It’s green white with a red dragon on it. They’re not included in the Union flag as they are seen to be represented by the cross of St George.’

’I think I’d like to have a flag with a dragon on it,’ said Richard.

’I think a flag with a bar of chocolate on it would suit you better,’ laughed his grandfather.

Conclusion
Richard was surprised to learn about the real story of Saint George – it wasn’t at all what he’d expected but it was even more exciting.

He found out that the patron saint of England represents lots of countries and causes. He also learned that St George’s Day is a chance for people to enjoy some traditional English entertainment and celebrate a small piece of our nation’s history – even if his grandfather is Scottish!

Prayer
Dear Father,
Thank you for the gift of celebration: the times that bring our communities together in laughter and enjoyment. Amen.

Reflection
Saint George’s Day is a chance to celebrate what’s good about English history and culture – even when the history is a bit different from what we expected!

Further information
The Cross of St George was originally the flag for the town Genoa in Italy. It was used by the English from 1190 and adopted as the flag of England in 1277.

It is believed that also on 23rd April Shakespeare was born in 1564 and died on the same day in 1616.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said that St George’s Day is a time to celebrate the very best of everything English and that the Cross of St George will proudly fly outside City Hall on 23rd April.

St George’s Day Events

• The St George's Day 10K Road Race, Ambleside, Cumbria (18th April)
• St George's Joust and medieval market, Braintree, Essex (18th & 19th April)
• Morris Dancing, Maypole dancing, and a Punch and Judy show, V&A Museum of Childhood, London (18th April)
• A free, family-friendly concert in Trafalgar Square, London (25th April)
• Live music, folk dancing and knights, Birmingham city centre (25th April)
• Knights, falconry, theatre, Wrest Park, Bedfordshire (25th & 26th April)
• Dragon Trail for Children, Belsay Hall, Northumberland (25th & 26th April)
• St George’s Roman origins and life as a Roman soldier, Corbridge, Northumberland (25th & 26th April)
• Medieval Pageant, Beeston Castle, Cheshire (25th & 26th April)
• Archery, sword fighting and knights training, Hastings, Sussex (25th & 26th April)
• St George battles the dragon, Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire (25th & 26th April)
• Medieval Storytelling, Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire (25th & 26th April)
• England's Anthems, Dover Castle, Kent (25th & 26th April)
• St George's Day Fayre, Horley, Surrey (25th & 26th April)

This e-bulletin issue was first published in April 2009

About the author: Jane A. C. West