George and the Dragon

The story of Saint George is so wrapped in myth and legend that it’s difficult to extract the historical facts. Some believe he never existed or that he’s a Christianised version of an older pagan myth.

In the early centuries of Christianity, followers would write up fabulous accounts of the lives of their heroes. This enhanced George’s reputation but left the details of his life very blurred.
What we believe to be the truth is that George was born in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey in the 3rd century; that his parents were Christians; and that when his father died, George’s mother returned to her native Palestine, taking George with her. George became a soldier in the Roman army and rose to the rank of Tribune. The Emperor of the day, Diocletian (245-313 CE), began a campaign against Christians at the very beginning of the 4th century. In about 303 CE George is said to have objected to this persecution and resigned his military post in protest. George tore up the Emperor’s order against Christians. This infuriated Diocletian, and George was imprisoned and tortured, but he refused to deny his faith. Eventually he was dragged through the streets of Diospolis (now Lydda) in Palestine and beheaded. It’s said that Diocletian’s wife was so impressed by George’s resilience that she became a Christian and that she too was executed for her faith.

Myths

In the stories George is said to have been tortured in a number of gruesome and hideous ways. He was forced to swallow poison; crushed between two spiked wheels; boiled in a cauldron of molten lead. None of these attempts killed him and his wounds were healed in the night by Christ himself. George was told his life would be spared if he would offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. The people assembled to see him do so but instead George prayed to the Christian God. Immediately, fire came down from heaven, an earthquake shook the ground, and priests, idols, and the temple buildings were destroyed. However, by this time it was God’s will that St. George should die for his faith, and he was beheaded without further trouble. Stories of this nature abounded about pagan and Christian figures in the early Middle Ages. People would have expected their heroes to have undergone such experiences and in an age when many things seemed mystical, few were sceptical about such stories.

The Dragon

I have encountered 2 versions of this legend.
1: “The Legend in which George slays a fierce dragon, symbolising evil, and rescues an innocent maiden from death is thought to have appeared as late as the 12th century and may have origins in the story of Perseus, who defended the virgin Andromeda against the monstrous Medusa.”

2: “A pagan town in Libya was victimised by a dragon (representing the devil), which the inhabitants first attempted to placate by offerings of sheep, and then by the sacrifice of various members of their community. The daughter of the king (representing the Church) was chosen by lot and was taken out to await the coming of the monster, but George arrived, killed the dragon, and converted the community to Christianity.”

St George and England

The earliest known British reference to Saint George occurs in an account by St. Adamnan, the 7th century Abbot of lona. He’s believed to have heard the story from Arcuif, a French bishop who had travelled to Jerusalem and other holy places in Palestine. The saint is also mentioned in the writings of the Venerable Bede. George's reputation grew with the returning crusaders. A miracle appearance when it is claimed that he appeared to lead crusaders into battle, is recorded in stone over the south door of a church at Fordington in Dorset. This still exists and is the earliest known church in England to be dedicated to St. George. The Council of Oxford in 1222 named 23rd April Saint George’s Day.

Where does the easter bunny come from?

Easter is annual festival commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principal feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therefore called a movable feast.

The origin of its name is unknown.

Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St Bede, believe it probably comes from "Eostre", the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April.

Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in coloured Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colours to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg-rolling contests or given as gifts.

Such festivals, and the stories and legends that explain their origin, were common in ancient religions. A Greek legend tells of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day; her return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter.

Many ancient peoples shared similar legends. The Phrygians believed that their omnipotent deity went to sleep at the time of the winter solstice, and they performed ceremonies with music and dancing at the spring equinox to awaken him.

Chinese New Year

On February 18th, the Chinese new year starts.

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One of my favourites had to be "If you actually look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel".


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Valentines Day

Valentine's Day is also known as the 'Eve of Roman Lupercalia'. This was a time of great celebration, a celebration of youthful love. Chance seemed to play a large part in this festival as sweethearts were chosen by a system similar to a lottery. Since Ancient Greek and Roman times this day has held a central focus in the folkloric calendar.

More recent traditions involve men and women exchanging cards which contained love dedications or even marriage proposals, each highly decorative, hand-made and personally designed. This tradition commenced in the Middle Ages. The sender then as now should never sign the card as it was considered to bring bad luck. Of course it also stifles any idea of guessing who might be in love with you. The idea of the secret admirer has long charmed both men and women alike.

Love divination games were very popular during the Victorian period for young lovers. There are many divination rituals and games. One of the most often used involved the potential lover writing the name of their favourite persons on a piece of paper and sealing it in clay which was then dropped into a bowl of water. The first clay to rise to the surface when opened would reveal the name of their future sweetheart or 'Valentine'. Sending a gift to the person was the next step towards revelation and happiness in love.

Many different flowers are also associated with this day, given as tokens of love. A European belief in the power of the saffron coloured crocus to attract attention of a lover is best done if worn in the buttonhole. Armed with this she is more likely to meet her future intended. In order to dream of a future husband on this night one European custom often followed was the placing of fresh Bay Leaves under the pillow the night before.

The type of flowers sent or decorating a card adds further meaning to a Valentine card and has come to be known as 'The Language of Flowers'. Some of the most well known Valentine flowers to be used to decorate the cards are highlighted below with an idea of the specific symbolism behind their inclusion, not all of which indicate love blossoming but also love on the wain.

Almond Blossom; As a symbol of hope, sweetness, delicacy.

Anenome; As a symbol of withered hopes, a dying love.

Forget-me-not; As a symbol of true love Lily; As a symbol of purity (white), gaiety or falsehood (yellow).

Periwinkle; As a symbol of early friendship (blue), happy memories (white).

Poppy; As a symbol of fantastic extravagance (scarlet), consolation (red). If the love is faithful placing a petal in the palm of the hand and hitting it with a fist should produce a popping sound.

Rose; As a symbol of love, pure and lovely (red rose buds), jealousy (yellow). This flower is dedicated to love.

Snowdrop; As a symbol of hope, consolation. The flower is thought mythologically to have been a snowflake which was transformed to comfort Adam and Eve after they had been expelled from the Garden of Eden.

Sunflower; As a symbol of the sun, and also haughtiness. Tulip; As a symbol of powerful love being declared (red), hopeless love (yellow). The heart burning symbolically like a flame.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. It is a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.