Tomorrow 23 April will be a special day for those of you who live in Barcelona. Sant Jordi is your patron saint’s day and you will exchange gifts of books and roses with your beloved ones. But for us, however new we might be to this generous tradition, it will also be a red-lettered day in our calendars because Saint George is also our patron saint and his cross features in our national flag.

But... who was this Saint George?

For God’s sake! He was a Roman fellow and was killed one way or other in 303 AD! Why must his cross feature in our national flag? I mean, he’s popularly identified with England and English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry but actually he wasn't English at all.  

Despite the fact that he probably never even visited the country, stories of his courage managed to get back to those who lived in England thanks to the Crusaders. It was King Edward III who in his attempt to rebuild the strength of the English monarchy after the disastrous reign of his father made him patron saint of the country - St George was part of his strategy to make England one of the most powerful and warlike nations in Europe. He formed the order of the Garter in the saint’s name  in 1350 – yes,  that one whose members, among them the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and other assorted royals, wear that ridiculous garter somewhere below their knee. The cult of the Saint was further advanced by King Henry V, at the battle of Agincourt in northern France.

Shakespeare made sure that nobody would forget St. George, and has King Henry V finishing his pre-battle speech with the famous phrase, ‘Cry God for Harry, England and St. George!’

King Henry himself, who was both warlike and devout, was thought by his followers to possess many of the saint’s characteristics.

An interesting piece of trivia – Shakespeare was born on St. George’s Day 1564, and if the story is to be believed, died on St. George’s Day 1616.

An appropriate end perhaps for the man who helped to immortalise the Saint in English tradition.