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| Black Country and Staffordshire enjoy parades celebrating St George’s Day |
Happy St. George’s Day if you are English. He’s the patron saint of England and his red and white crossed flag has long stood for England’s supremacy.
Yet St. Patrick was far more British than he. St. George was born in Syria around 275 AD and never set foot in England. St.Patrick was born in Wales.
George was born to a Christian family and became a great warrior. Roman emperors tried to get him to denounce his Christianity but he refused to and he eventually died a martyr.
When it came time for the Crusades, George became an obvious saint to rally around, being from that neighborhood.
He became especially worshiped in Britain where by the 14th century he was very much the patron saint of the land.
Even when the Reformation hit and Catholicism was banished, St. George’s Day remained intact, a clear example of his popularity.
St. George and the Dragon is the motif most people associate with him. The tale is that there was a dragon threatening a state and each day it demanded more and more sacrifice.
George eventually killed the dragon because the dragon's next victim was a princess and George loved her.
Or so it goes. Most see it as a symbolic tale about George slaying the pagans.
Anyway, the British will celebrate, but hardly with the ferocity that we do with St. Patrick.
When it comes to patron saints I think the Irish have definitely got the better of this one.
19 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BrianO | Apr 26, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
Steven star don't you have a dragon to slay, enjoy your day.
EamonnDublin | Apr 25, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
"STEVENSTAR"! There now, that's better - I feel nice and chilled out. You have saved my life! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are a WONDERFUL counsellor - you sound SO happy and contented all of the time, except for the 99% of the time that you're rantin' ravin' and howlin' at the moon. I think I'll have another little nap .... Z Z z z z Z ...Z Z Z Z Z Z Éamonn Z z z z ..
EamonnDublin | Apr 25, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
"STEVENSTAR"! z z z z z z z......z z z z z z z.......z z z z.......z z z z.....z z z z z z z z z z......Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z.....z z z Z Z Z z......z z z z z....Éamonn, zzz Dublin, Ireland z z z z z z z z....
EamonnDublin | Apr 25, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
"STEVENSTAR"! zzzzzzz......zzzzzzz.......zzzz.......zzzz.....zzzzzzzzzz......ZZZZZZZZ.....zzzZZZz......zzzzz....Éamonn, zzz Dublin, Ireland zzzzzzzz....
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 10:18 AM EDT
@@@@@ ALSO EAMON IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE POST ON THIS WEBSITE ITS NOT THE IRISH PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN IRELAND AND ARE IRISH ITS NOT US THAT ARE ANTI BRITISH ITS FROM AMERICANS.. TRYING TO BE IRISH ... I WISH ALL AMERICANS WOULD KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS AND MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS ... THERE ARE 4.5 MILLION IRISH NATIONALS IN IRELAND AND THATS IT AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED ..
STEVENSTAR | Apr 25, 2012, 10:13 AM EDT
@@@EamonnDublin | Apr 24, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT Good Lord, the hate-mongerers are at it again! I am Irish. I love the United States and its people. I love Ireland and its people. I spent my years from aged 15 to aged 36 in England and I loved it and its people (still do!). What the hell is up with you guys? Are you so bloody miserable ALL of the time? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland. EAMON CHILL OUT MATE FROM STEVEN IN CORK , PEOPLE EXPRESS OPINIONS AND IF YOU DONT LIKE THEM , THEN DONT TAKE IT TO HEART OTHERWISE YOU WILL JUST STRESS OVER SILLY THINGS .. WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE ARE FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND OPINIONS FREELY WE DONT LIVE UNDER A DICTATORSHIP WHERE WE ARE TOLD WHAT TO THINK AND SAY .. HAVE A NICE CALM DAY MATE ..
EamonnDublin | Apr 24, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT
Good Lord, the hate-mongerers are at it again! I am Irish. I love the United States and its people. I love Ireland and its people. I spent my years from aged 15 to aged 36 in England and I loved it and its people (still do!). What the hell is up with you guys? Are you so bloody miserable ALL of the time? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 10:27 AM EDT
@@ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 02:17 PM EDT STEVENSTAR: They were not just manual labor, and to assume that only so called uneducated engaged in that behavior is arrogant and elitist. Lets not forget there were educated back then too, as in the Bagatelle song we got brains and we got visions and education too, and all of that. Oh and I am Irish born, and have a house over there so I am not riding a donkey around the Lakes of Killarney, so it knock it off with that. The educated Irish engage in that behavior too, and foul language and all the rest. Ireland needs to fix that behavior it is as simple as that. As far as your highly educated work force and all the rest, well you all have certainly made a real mess of the place; it is an embarrassment.>>>>>>>>>> WELL DEAR THE STATE OF THE IRISH ECONOMY IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS UNLESS YOU LIVE HERE WORK HERE AND PAY TAXES .. THEN YOU CAN COMMENT !!!
STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT
@@@@jamieLM | Apr 23, 2012, 03:23 PM EDT>>>>> YES YOU ARE SO RIGHT AND EVERYONE AGREES WITH YOU....... happy now !!!!
FallsRNat | Apr 23, 2012, 06:35 PM EDT
As St Patrick was british before being adopted by the Irish, i suppose this article really doesn't matter.
eiriamach | Apr 23, 2012, 05:46 PM EDT
Three cheers for jamieLM! St. George and the dragon mythology has produced some interesting art, stained glass windows, etc.: Google~~ isidore of seville dragon pictures, saint george. Worth a look-see.
jamieLM | Apr 23, 2012, 03:23 PM EDT
@ancavker, Stevenstar never misses an opportunity to badmouth America/Americans. As much as I appreciate all the MANY wonderful things Ireland has to offer, I've been there enough to know it's like every country on earth. It has its problems. It's not perfect. All Irish don't think and act alike and neither do all Americans. We don't need the Irish to point out America's shortcomings to us anymore than the Irish need Americans to point out Ireland's shortcomings to them. Nasty comments make everyone defensive and makes the poster look insecure, immature, and narrow-minded. Each country is what it is, with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. If you want to play, "my country is better than your country," then you should hang out with the kiddie set who are the same mental age you are.
ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 02:17 PM EDT
STEVENSTAR: They were not just manual labor, and to assume that only so called uneducated engaged in that behavior is arrogant and elitist. Lets not forget there were educated back then too, as in the Bagatelle song we got brains and we got visions and education too, and all of that. Oh and I am Irish born, and have a house over there so I am not riding a donkey around the Lakes of Killarney, so it knock it off with that. The educated Irish engage in that behavior too, and foul language and all the rest. Ireland needs to fix that behavior it is as simple as that. As far as your highly educated work force and all the rest, well you all have certainly made a real mess of the place; it is an embarrassment.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 11:37 AM EDT
REPLY...ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MATE THE 1980S WAS 30 YEARS AGO FOR GODS SAKE WILL YOU MOVE ON... ANYONE THAT DID MOVE TO AMERICA IN THE 80S PROB HAD LITTLE EDUCATION WORKED ON BUILDING SITES OR WAITED ON TABLES ... MOVE FORWARD TO IRELAND 2012 (WHICH MOST AMERICANS CANT SEEM TO DEAL WITH)......WE NOW HAVE A HIGHLY EDUCATED YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ONE OF THE HIGEST LEVELS OF GRADUATES IN EUROPE... SO QUIT LIVING IN THE PAST AND STOP ALL THIS IRISH AMERICAN RUBBISH AND YOU BEEN TO IRELAND TO RIDE THE DONKEY AND CART IN KILLARNEY AND YOU KISSED THE BLARNEY STONE...AND YOU WONDER WHY WE LAUGH AT PEOPLE LIKE YOU ..
ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
STEVENSTAR: You paint with a broad brush regarding Irish-Americans. I too could paint with the same brush and comment on some of the shameful behavior of the Irish who came in the 1980's and moved into my Irish-American enclave. The horrific bar fights, the vomit all over peoples front steps and porches on a Saturday and Sunday morning. The disgusting behavior towards women, oh and the fact that some pubs were off limits to Irish-Americans; Irish born only.
ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT
Patric: You are confusing English and British, which I believe defeats the purpose of your article. St George's Day is a celebration for the English, (and rightfully so). The fact that St. Patrick was born in Wales has nothing to do with it. Or the term British either. St George is a celebration of the patron Saint of England.
jamieLM | Apr 23, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
@Stevenstar, your anti-American comments are obviously unlimited. Thank goodness you don't represent very many of the Irish. Most of them are objective and rational. I've been to Ireland on St. Patrick's Day and have seen Irish citizens (not immigrants) "hijacking" the day. Every country has their fair share of village idiots. Anyone who talks about another country as if ALL its citizens thought and acted alike, is a super mentally challenged village idiot. At least we "loud and tacky" Americans have enough sense not to post in all caps.
jamieLM | Apr 23, 2012, 09:47 AM EDT
As an American, I don't care who the English celebrate as their patron saint. If they want to rally around St. George, go for it. I hope this doesn't turn into a "my saint is better than your saint" discussion. St. Patrick has plenty of legend and hype baggage, too. No disrespect intended. Personally, I admire more recent and well-documented saints - ones based in facts rather than fiction. Each to his own. There's a saint for everyone.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 09:47 AM EDT
HAPPY ST GEORGES DAY TO ALL MY ENGLISH FRIENDS AND FAMILY .... LEAST THE ENGLISH DONT HAVE TO PUT WITH WITH AMERICANS HIJACKING THEIR NATIONAL DAY LIK WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THEM DOING IT TO US.. GREEN RIVERS, LEPRAUCHANS, GREEN BEER AND KISS ME IM IRISH HATS PARADING ALL OVER AMERICA... YOU CAN ALWAYS TRUST THE AMERICANS TO MAKE SOMETHING LOUD AND TACKY !!! AS AN IRISH MAN LIVING IN IRELAND ST PATRICKS DAY MAKES ME CRINGE AS REGARDS WHAT THEY DO TO IT!!