A few weeks ago, I noticed that all the pubs started hanging these white flags with a red cross everywhere. I assumed what I always assume when something's going on in a pub that I don't understand, that is had something to do with football (soccer) and ignored it. About a week ago, Bobby informed me that these flags were being hung for a British holiday I had never heard of: St. George's Day. Neither of us knew what St. George's day was, so we went to the man who has all the answers: Mr. Wikipedia.
As it turns out, St. George is the patron saint of England and that flag is his emblem. So, St. George's Day is like the british version of St. Patrick's Day. Legend has it that a pagan village was being tormented by an evil dragon. To appease the dragon, they would offer it human sacrifices. They decided who would be sacrificed by drawing lots. One day, the queen's lot was drawn. She was about to be killed by the dragon when St. George (a Turkish Christian) showed up on one of his many travels. He promptly made the sign of the cross and slay the dragon. To show their appreciation, the pagan village converted to Christianity.
So yeah, that's the story of St. George as I understand it. More than anything though, St. George's Day is the British national day. St. George's Day happened to be yesterday; so, like true Brits, we did what everyone here does to celebrate: went to the pub.
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