Looking back on St George's Day: when people became patriotic

The day is the traditionally accepted date of the saint’s death in the Diocletianic Persecution. It coincides with the birth and death dates of English playwright and poet William Shakespeare, who we’ll be featuring tomorrow.
While St George is best known for being England’s patron saint, the feast day is also celebrated by Christian churches, countries, and regions of which he is also the patron saint, including Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Greece, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Syria, Lebanon, Catalonia, Alcoi, Aragon, and Rio de Janeiro.
A traditional custom is to fly or adorn the St George’s Cross flag in some way. It is customary for the hymn Jerusalem to be sung in cathedrals, churches and chapels on the day itself, or on the Sunday closest to it.
In 2016, Beckstone Primary School, in Harrington, went all out with a St George’s Day parade. Pictured is Jackson Wright as a dragon in tribute to the legend of St George slaying the fiery beast.

Headteacher David Warbrick cuts a dashing figure as the saint himself, while Macy Fraizer is at the forefront of a group of flag-waving youngsters.

To mark both St George’s Day and the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, in 2016, Classic Theatre Cumbria held an evening of words and music at Carlisle Cathedral Fratery. John Davies is shown reciting some of the Bard’s work.

St George is the patron saint of the Scout movement, which has held St George’s Day parades since its first years, and pictured is a local example from the 1970s.

Also shown is the Solway and Derwent Scouts’ annual St George’s Day Walk, and a parade by 11 groups of Beavers, Scouts and Cubs from the Baden-Powell Scouts’ Association.

Our final two pictures are of St George’s Day fun at Lamplugh School. Pupil Jack Telford is having his face painted by Sarah Lopez while a group of girls pose in red, white and blue.