The Irish celebrate St Patrick's day with pride and fervour, while the Scottish come together to enjoy Burns night. So why isn't St George's day celebrated with the same passion? Why do the English fail to celebrate our patron saint's day in the same way that our closest neighbours do?
St George was a Roman soldier, born in Cappadocia (Turkey), who protested against the Roman's torture of Christians. He was beheaded on 23rd April 303 at Lydda in Palestine.
St George's emblem, a red cross on a white background, was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century.
From the 15th century onwards, St George's Day was celebrated with a major feast in England, very much on a par with Christmas. By the end of the 18th century, this tradition had faded. The popularity of St George's Day appears to have gradually increased in recent years though.
