What do these pictures make you think of?

These pictures are all symbols of England.

Who is this? What do you know about him?

This is a paining of St. George slaying a dragon.

St George is the patron saint of England.

St George’s Day is on April 23rd.

What is a ‘patron saint?’ A saint who is considered to be a defender of some group or nation.

United Kingdom and Eire

United Kingdom and Eire St. Andrew St. Patrick St. George St. David

When is each patron saint celebrated? St David’s Day – March 1st St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th St. George’s Day – April 23rd St. Andrew’s Day- Nov. 30th

St. George is part of English culture. We live in England and it is important to learn about English culture.

St George is special to England. St George’s Day is a special day for people in many different countries. In Brazil, Italy, China, Portugal, Greece, India, Canada, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Malta, Saint George is remembered. St George is special to England.

Why is Saint George special? What did he do? Some of the things we know are true and some are made up. First the true story.

George was born in a country that is now called Turkey nearly two thousand years ago. His parents were Christians and his father was a soldier. When George was old enough he joined the Roman army.

George was a very good soldier and he was put in charge of many other soldiers. He was sent to a place called Nicomedia as a special guard to the Emperor Diocletian.

Diocletian was not a kind emperor Diocletian was not a kind emperor. He did not like Christians (people who prayed to Jesus) and made an order that they were all to be killed.

George was ordered to kill Christians but he would not do it George was ordered to kill Christians but he would not do it. He told the emperor that he was wrong to order him to and that he was a Christian too.

The Emperor was very angry and ordered George to be killed The Emperor was very angry and ordered George to be killed. He died on 23rd April. Many people heard how brave George was, they became Christians too. For hundreds of years people in different countries all over the world heard about George.

After he died, George was called Saint George, which is a name given to some Christians to show they are special. All over the world churches were built and named after him. When English soldiers went to fight in different countries they heard about Saint George. They wore red crosses on their clothes and shields and called it the cross of Saint George.

Over a thousand years ago The King of England, Edward the third ordered that Saint George should be the special Saint for England. He had a church built near his castle. The Queen still uses it today.

St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor, England.

The stories told of something that George did. Stories began to be told about Saint George. These stories were not true but some people believed them. The stories told of something that George did.

The legend of St. George and the Dragon

Hi, I’m George! Many years ago, in the times of magic and dragons, there lived a brave knight called St. George.

St George travelled the land looking for adventure.

One day, he met an old man who told him a strange tale.

Every day a hideous dragon demands a fair maiden from our village for his dinner.

Now, there are no fair maidens left in our village and he is demanding the King’s daughter.

We must find a brave knight who will slay the dragon or the King’s daughter will be killed tomorrow night.

The King has promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to whomever kills the beast

After hearing the old man’s tale, St. George was determined to fight and kill the dragon, and save the princess.

He rested the night at the old man’s house and awoke at dawn to slay the dragon.

As soon as St. George approached the dragon began to roar. Roar.

Then, great flames blew from his nostrils.

But St. George was not afraid. He struck the beast with his spear.

However, the dragon’s scales were tough and the spear broke in St. George’s hands.

St George rolled under an orange tree for protection St George rolled under an orange tree for protection. He didn’t realise it was a magic orange tree. It protected him from the dragon.

Finding new strength, St George ran at the dragon a second time, and wounded him under his arm, where there were no hard scales.

The dragon was dead and the princess was saved.

All the village people were overjoyed the evil dragon was dead...

...and the King was happy that his daughter had been saved.

As promised, the King granted St. George permission to marry his daughter.

St George and the princess were married, and lived happily ever after.

Because St George was so brave, he became the patron saint of England and many other countries.

This means St. George was made defender of England’s land, laws, beliefs and faith. He stood for all that was good.

The red cross on his shield became the flag of England.

Every year on April 23rd, English people celebrate St George’s day.

On St George’s day, some people wear a rose, as this is the flower of England.

Other people fly the St George flag, in their homes or on the streets.

Some towns in England have parades.

St. George is part of English culture. We live in England and it is important to learn about English culture.