This Week In Vexillology #78

Just in time for the holiday- or I guess the post-holiday weekend, we're heading back from the Pacific to check out the flag of Merry Old England for St. George's Day!

But, before we get to the flag- let's dig in and find out once and for all:  who was St. George and did he really slay that dragon? Well, if you want the full life story, go and read his Wikipedia page.  To me, the more interesting thing is the dragon- and the Reader's Digest Version of that story goes like this:

There was a dragon (or possibly a crocodile) that made it's nest in the spring that provided water for the city of Silene (which, per Wikipedia could either be Cyrene in Modern Libya or Lydda in the Holy Land/Palestine, which St. George claimed as his hometown- so, when the citizens wanted water, they had to roust the beastie out of it's nest by offering a sheep or if they were fresh out of sheep a nice, juicy maiden instead.  They drew lots for the maidens and one day, lo and behold, the princess' number came up.  Dear Old Dad, The King begs for his life, but the citizens say no dice and off she goes- and guess who happens to be in the neighborhood?  St. George himself- who slays the dragon and rescues the Princess.  Everyone back in town is so happy they convert to Christianity to celebrate!

(Bonus:  St. George's lance that did the deed was named Ascalon which was named after the city of Ashkelon in the Levant- a city that's still there, by the way.)

Which brings us back to the crazy-ass question:  how did some Lebanese guy wind up being the Patron Saint of England- and how did his cross end up as England's flag? Well it seems to have stemmed from the Crusades- way way way back in the day.  In 1188 Henry II of England and Philip II went to go on a Crusade and Henry agreed to use the white cross and Phillip the red one, but England and France seems to have switched it up around the time of Richard The Lionheart, that apparently that can't be substantiated.

Interestingly enough the flag has no official status within the United Kingdom- but it's been in increasing use since the 1990s- especially at sporting events.

So, there you have it- the flag of England.  Until next time, keep your flags flying, FREAK or otherwise!