St. George’s Day, St George the patron saint of England

St George’s Day, Patron of England

St. George, why is St. George’s Day not celebrated in England, St George is the patron saint of England and yet we do not in England have a public holiday or a bank holiday, why is this?

It was once a major feast in England on a par with Christmas from the early 15th century. However, this custom had waned by the end of the 18th century. In recent years the popularity of St. George’s Day appears to be increasing gradually.

Saint George

The most famous legend of Saint George is of him slaying a dragon. In the Middle Ages the dragon was commonly used to represent the Devil.

George was adopted as the patron saint of soldiers after he was said to have appeared to the Crusader army at the Battle of Antioch in 1098.

St George’s Cross

The Cross of St. George was a cross in plain gold or silver (later to be replaced with non-precious metals of similar colours), with a central disc bearing the image of St. George on horseback slaying the dragon. It was worn on the left chest with the ribbon of the Order of St. George, which was orange with three black stripes.

Is it time we had a public holiday for St. George’s Day in England?

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