Come to Our St George's Day Party

We Are Planning a St George's Day Party

April 23^rd, St George's Day, falls on a Tuesday this year. St George is the patron saint of England. Apart from the legend of him slaying the dragon, very little is commonly known about him. So little, in fact, that, in 1969, the Roman Catholic Church reduced his status to the lowest possible ranking.

Most English people will be surprised, as was I, to learn that St George was actually a Roman soldier who served in England during the early fourth century. He was reportedly executed for objecting to the mistreatment of Christians. Yet despite this tenuous link to England he was adopted as the country's patron saint.

References to St George occur throughout English history. The Cross of St George (a red cross – representing Christ's blood at his crucifixion – on a white background - for purity) was adopted as the regalia of the English Army at or around the time of the Crusades and is now the national flag of England. 

In the 16^th Century, Shakespeare (who was born and died on St George's Day) mentions St George in Henry V's speech at the gates of Agincourt:

'I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry God for Harry, England and St George!'.

So What About the Party?
A friend and customer was in the store this week and suggested that if we could get enough people interested, we could organize a bit of a shindig to celebrate St George's Day. How about a (non-profit) knees-up with a menu of good British food, wine and beer, in Orangeville, on Tuesday 23rd April?

Other British communities in Canada regularly hold events with a British theme so why not Orangeville? Leave a comment below this post if you have ideas or would like to join us.