QuoteEvery year, on the 23rd of April, England celebrates Saint George's Day. Also the National Day of England, Saint George's Day is a day of celebration in honour of Saint George, the patron saint of England. April 23rd is the traditionally accepted day of his death in 303 AD.
In reality, Saint George was a Roman soldier who protested against the torture and persecution of Christians. He was imprisoned, and later beheaded for his beliefs. It is unlikely that the real Saint George ever set foot in England, but he gained great popularity among its people as a result of the Golden Legend of Saint George and the Dragon.
The legend goes as such: In the ancient city of Silene, there was a lake by which a terrifying dragon resided. This made it difficult for the people of Silene to draw water from the pond, and so every day, to appease the dragon, they would offer him a sacrifice of sheep. After they ran out of sheep, they began to sacrifice young maidens, who were chosen by drawing lots. One time, the King's daughter Sabra was selected. The King was distraught and tried to negotiate a deal for his daughter's life, but the people were adamant, and Sabra was sent to the lake to be devoured.
More: Celebrating Saint George, patron saint of England | Royal Central (http://www.royalcentral.co.uk/blogs/celebrating-saint-george-patron-saint-of-england-2-27685)
:thanks: PoP
I was born on St. George's Day at St. George's Hospital, my grandmother thought it was a sign I should be named Georgina but luckier cooler heads prevailed. :happy15:
QuoteTo celebrate St George's Day, the homepage for Google's UK site has changed to a moody watercolour of a knight facing up against a dragon.
The Google logo can faintly be seen in the swirls of muted fog in the background.
While St George's Day is the national day of England, the patron saint is of Middle Eastern origin, and celebrated by Christian churches across Europe and North Africa.
More: Google's St George's Day Doodle and Medieval myth | Science & Tech | News | Daily Express (http://www.express.co.uk/news/science-technology/471923/Google-s-St-George-s-Day-Doodle-and-Medieval-myth)