Flag UK: England St George St George / Flag of England 3x5' Printed Poly.
The calendar entry for 23 April reads: "George, Martyr, 4th century." It's a curious survival when one considers that the Roman Catholic Church has dropped this date from its calendar altogether on the grounds that George is more a legend than an authentic saint. Yet some knowledge about him would be helpful since he is the patron saint of England - and therefore also of the Church of England and, in a sense, of the Anglican Communion - as well as of Portugal, Aragon, and a number of Italian and Greek cities and towns including Padua and Mantua, not to mention a few centres in Germany. And in most of these places 23 April is still St. George's Day.
The blood-red cross of St. George now also became associated with England. This had not always been George's: the Archangel Michael appears to have found his way into heraldry first, as a knight in silver armour with a red cross on his shield and banner, symbolically killing the Devil in the shape of a dragon. This image was transferred to George, however, and appears in the regalia of the Order of the Garter. (It's also found, incidentally, on the club tie of Port Elizabeth's St. George's Club.) It was the custom of the times to have, in addition to the king's banner of his coat of arms, a "badge" flag, often bearing a cross.
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