Celebrating Seaford

St George’s Day is celebrated on 23rd April every year.

St George is the patron saint of England, although he wasn’t born in England and never visited the country. He was born during the 3rd century in Cappadocia, Turkey and died on the 23rd April 303 AD in Lod, Israel, known at the time as Lydda.

St George was an officer in the Roman army. He rebelled against Diocletian’s actions against the Christians which led to him being imprisoned. Despite being tortured he refused to turn away from his religious beliefs, eventually being beheaded.

The feast day of St George has been celebrated in England since the 9th Century. It was in the 12th century that St George was officially named the patron saint of England after King Edward III made him the patron of the Order of the Garter.

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. The Order includes members of the Royal Family, with King Charles being the Sovereign of the Order, plus 24 knights. The spiritual home of the Order is St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. It is said the chapel once held two fingers, part of the heart, and part of the skull of St George.

A common tale is that of St George slaying a dragon. It is said there was a dragon by a fresh water spring near the town of Silene in Libya. People would offer sheep to the dragon when collecting water. When they ran out of sheep the people of Silene decided to choose a maiden from the town by drawing lots. Princess Cleolinda lost and was to be the dragon’s next victim. As she was about to be offered to the dragon a knight from the Crusades came riding by on his white stallion. St George dismounted and drew his sword, protecting himself with the sign of the cross. He killed the dragon and saved the princess. The people of Silene were so grateful they abandoned their pagan beliefs to convert to Christianity.

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Update:

This year St George’s Day is not on April 23rd!

The Church of England has put back this year’s feast day to Monday, April 28. 

According to church rules, no saint’s day can take place in the week before or after Easter. 

A note issued by the church states: ‘When St George’s Day or St Mark’s Day falls between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter inclusive, it is transferred to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter. If both fall in this period, St George’s Day is transferred to the Monday and St Mark’s Day to the Tuesday.’