Happy St George's Day from Crealy!

We had such fun celebrating our national day. Here's a pic of our famous Head of Grounds, John Murphy - our very own dragon slayer!

Did you know that St George is actually also, among others, the Patron Saint of China, Ethiopia, Greece, Portugal, Russia - and Scouting? It is also widely believed that he never set foot in England during his lifetime (ca. 275-281 - April 23, 303). St George is often depicted slaying a dragon and riding a white horse and there is usually the inclusion of the St George's Cross on his armour or shield.

The Greek tradition says that the Saint was born to Christian parents, in Turkey. His father died fighting for his faith and whilst still a child, George fled with his mother to Palestine. Growing up in Palestine exposed George to the Roman culture and he eventually joined the Roman army. At the outbreak of the Roman Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians, George declared himself a Christian. For his faith he was sentenced to death. In true Roman fashion George was subjected to grisly tortures, all of which he miraculously survived. By making the sign of the cross George apparently caused all the statues of the gods to fall at his feet. This miracle persuaded the Empress Alexandra to convert to Christianity. This conversion proved too much for Diocletian, Alexandra was sentenced to death. George was decapitated. The date was 23 April AD 303.

In the Latin version of the story, the Emperor Diocletian has become Dacian, the Emperor of the Persians. George is similarly tortured, but his miraculous survival results in the conversion to Christianity of more than 40,000 people. George is put to death by Dacian, but Dacian himself dies, when a whirlwind of fire carries him off.

Whatever actually happened, in AD 494, Pope Gelasius declared him a Saint.

The alternative English version which appeared by the seventeenth century has St George's birthplace as Coventry! George's father is Lord Albert, an English peer and George's birth takes place at Caludan Castle in Wyken, Coventry. As a young man George travels to Egypt and slaughters a dragon whilst rescuing a princess. In some versions he marries the princess and they return to Coventry. They have three sons, one of whom becomes Guy of Warwick.

George's dragon slaying days continue after his wife dies. He journeys to Jerusalem and on his return slays another dragon. This particular slaying takes place on Dunsmore Heath in Warwickshire. The adventure proved fatal with the story going that the vast amount of poison thrown upon him by the beast "so infected his vital spitals that............he died".

A second story has George coming back from his travels to save the people of Coventry from a great Dragon; in this battle George sustained severe injuries from which he died and was buried in state in Coventry.

Processions to celebrate his life and legendary adventures were conducted every year around the city of Coventry. They were later taken over by the Lady Godiva procession, but a figure representing Saint George invariably appears before the Lady.

Wouldn't it be great to celebrate St George's Day every year, with a day off school and work added on to the end of the Easter holidays? We have fewer national holidays than many countries, after all.

Angela x