What is St. George’s Day?
St. George’s Day, celebrated on the 23rd April each year, is a religious holiday celebrated by Christian churches to represent the Feast of Saint George.
Held on what is thought to be the anniversary of Saint George’s death, millions of people gather each year to hold traditional gatherings and events.
It is mainly observed by Christians from the Anglican, Lutheran and Orthodox churches in countries where Saint George is considered a ‘Patron Saint’.
Who was Saint George?
Saint George was a soldier of Greek origin who died for his religious beliefs following anti-Christian persecution from the Roman Empire.
As a result, he has been considered a martyr in Christianity for the centuries that have followed as an example of someone who sacrificed themselves for their faith.
His figure has been further immortalised through the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. This traditional tale features him slaying a dragon that demanded human sacrifice.
Which countries celebrate St. George’s Day?
Interestingly, St George's Day is celebrated not just by the English, but by several countries and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint.
These countries include Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Croatia amongst others.
The Saint George’s cross is still used to this day as the national flag of England and is featured in many others, such as the Catalonian flag.
St. George’s Day traditions around the world
In the countries that celebrate it, St. George’s Day comes with some fantastic traditions that take place each year. Some of them include:
- In Britain, traditional morris dancing takes place alongside other customs such as puppet shows.
- Roses and books are exchanged as gifts throughout Catalonia.
- Croatians and Albanians view St. George’s Day as the first day of Spring. They light large fires to celebrate.
- In recent years, countries in South East Asia, such as Hong Kong and Malaysia, have begun to observe British-style traditions such as eating fish and chips.
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
No comments:
Post a Comment