St. George’s Day

Saint George’s Day, the feast day of Saint George, is celebrated in England each year on April 23rd, the date traditionally accepted as the day St George died in AD303.  It was a major feast and national holiday in England, equal to Christmas, began in the early 15th century. 

 

It was a major feast and national holiday in England, said to be on par with Christmas, starting in the early 15th century.  John Cabot flew the Cross of St George flag in 1497 when he discovered Newfoundland as did St Francis Drake and St Walter Raleigh on other voyages.  The Pilgrim Fathers were flying the same flag in 1620 when they arrived at Plymouth MA. 

 

Celebrations may include morris dancing or even a Punch and Judy show. 

 

A morris dance is an English folk dance generally accompanied by music, based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers, using sticks, swords, handkerchiefs, and bells.  Geoff Douglas, a member of the Billericay Mayflower Twinning Association, is a member of the Billericay Morristown Dancers. The Billerica Twinning Group is proud and excited that we call him our friend.   

 

As for the Punch and Judy show which had its origins in 16th-century Italian commedia dell’arte, the British version was first recorded in 1662, with Punch wearing a bright colored jester’s motley (the traditional dress of the court jester) and a sugarloaf hat with a tassel.  Punch. a hunchback with a hooked nose that nearly meets his curved jutting chin, carries a stick (aka slapsick) which he uses on most of the other characters in the show.  He speaks in a squawking voice, created by a swazzle or swatchel which he has in his mouth. 

 

A traditional customs on St George’s day are to wear a red rose in your lapel. fly or adorn the St George’s Cross flag, abnd the hymn “Jerusalem” to be sung in cathedrals, churches and chapels.  Of course all celebrations have their traditional foods and drink – pub food (pork scratchings, pickled eggs, steak and ale pie, shepherds’ pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash and more), teas….. 

 

While St George’s day celebrations had waned by the end of the 18th century after the union of England and Scotland, there appears to be interest renewed in the holiday in recent years. BBC Radio 3 held full programming of St George’s Day events in 2006. Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford has been arguing in the House of Commons to make St George’s Day a public holiday. In 2009 Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, headed a campaign to celebrate St George’s Day.  Organizations such as English Heritage and the Royal Society of St George continue to encourage celebrations. 

Thanks to our friends in England for reminding us of this special holiday.  Happy St George’s Day!

Submitted by Joan Pa.