Happy St George’s Day! It’s time to celebrate all things English - dust off those flags, get morris dancing, wop out the roast beef, fry up your fish and chips and plop your red rose in your lapel.
So what is St George’s Day? The earliest documented mention of St George in England comes from the venerable Bede (c. 673–735). Countries that celebrate St George's Day include England, Canada, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Macedonia. Cities include Moscow in Russia, Genova in Italy, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Beirut in Lebanon, Qormi and Victoria in Malta and many others. It is also celebrated in the old kingdoms and counties of the Crown of Aragon in Spain—Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Palestine. St George's Day was a major feast and national holiday in England on a par with Christmas from the early 15th century. However, this tradition had waned by the end of the 18th century after the union of England and Scotland. Nevertheless this timeless link with St George continues today and it is growing in popularity.
What’s happening for St George’s Day in our region?
Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club is holding a member’s St George’s Day dinner with entertainment tonight. Tickets are just £16 per person. Click here for details.
St.George's Day Dinner in aid of Isabel Hospice, Bishops Stortford, Saturday 24th April, 7.15pm - 11pm, Rhodes Arts Complex. Join the Mayor of Bishops Stortford, Cllr Colin Woodward for an evening dinner to celebrate St.George's Day and raise much needed funds for Isabel Hospice. There will be a unique procession, after dinner entertainment by mind reader and psychologist Graham P Jolly and great music. Tickets £40 each including dinner, drinks reception and entertainment. Click here for details.
St George's Day celebrations in Sawbridgeworth Come and celebrate St George’s Day with the Sawbridgeworth Scouts and Guides. The youngsters will be marching in a parade through Bell Street at 11am on Sunday (Apr 25) followed by a service for England’s patron saint at Great St Mary’s Church. Air cadets from 309 Squadron will also be in attendance. Meanwhile, from 6pm on Friday (April 23), the Sawbridgeworth Society of Ringers will be celebrating as part of a co-ordinated nationwide event. The bells of Great St Mary’s will ring for 20-minutes as part of a campaign involving church towers up and down the country to raise the profile of St George’s Day.
We would love to hear about your St George’s Day celebrations. Get blogging and let us know your stories at thebestof Bishop’s Stortford.
