How to celebrate St Georges Day

St. George is the patron saint of England and St. George’s Day is England's national day. Increasing numbers of people are celebrating on 23 April, and many hope it will rival St. Patrick’s Day in years to come. Here are some tips for getting involved.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. St George and the Dragon Read "St. George and the Dragon" by Richard Johnson (1596) which tells of the great courage St. George displayed when he rescued a princess from a terrifying dragon. Available free at http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/st_george.asp
2. Wear a single red rose in your jacket lapel or give a rose to a loved one. As the national flower of England, the rose is a symbol of patriotic pride.
3. Do one of the 3 C's. St George is associated with Courage, Charity and Chivalry. For Courage you could use the day to overcome a phobia (and defeat your own personal dragon). For Charity you could organise a sponsored pub crawl. And for Chivalry give your loved-one a red rose.
4. Fly the St. George Cross flag. Many churches and official buildings fly the flag on St. George’s Day, but over 25% of councils failed to in 2007. We need to make more of an effort.
5. Visit one of the historical sites associated with St. George, such as Coventry, Salisbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
6. Visit http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com and sign the petition to make St Georges Day an official bank holiday in England and for more details about the man himself.
7. Check out http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/events to find details of celebrations and events in your local area. All the festivals, parades and celebrations are listed by English counties.
8. Send a St. George E-card to friends and family wishing them a Happy St George's Day. There are many to choose from at http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/st_georges_day_cards