St George's Day in London
Overview
London celebrates St George's Day with a whole host of free events including parades, food festivals, children's activities and more. A highlight is the annual festival in Trafalgar Square.
St George's Day is officially on 23 April.
History of St George and the Dragon
St George is the patron saint of England. His name is most commonly associated with the legend of St George and the Dragon.
In the mythical tale, George obtains glory by slaying a dragon that is terrorising the countryside and is about to eat a beautiful princess. George survives the ordeal by invoking the sign of the cross.
As a mark of their gratitude, the local citizens all convert to Christianity and seek to copy George's chivalrous, princess-saving behaviour.
The story is loosely based on a real-life George who was born around 280AD and grew up to become a Christian soldier of the Roman Empire.
The myth of St George and the Dragon in England was known prior to the Norman conquest in 1066. But the idea of George as the nation's patron saint probably caught on around William Shakespeare's time.
In Shakespeare's play Henry V, the English troops are famously rallied with the cry "God for Harry, England and St George!".
Practical Information
23 April 2014