On 23rd April, England celebrates the day of its patron saint, St. George. But, St. George isn't just the patron saint of England. In this WebQuest you will discover the answers to these questions: Who was St. George? What is he the patron saint of? Where is his day celebrated? Did he really kill a dragon?

Activity 1: Who was Saint George?

Choose one of the topics below and prepare a report. The questions will help you prepare your report. You can use these two sites for information:

1. A biography of St. George

a) Who was St George?
b) Where was he born?
c) What was his occupation?
d) What kind of person was he?
e) What was the official religion of the Roman Empire?
f) What did the Roman Emperor do that made St. George angry?
g) What was St. George's reaction?
h) What did the Roman Emperor do to St. George?

2. The influence of St. George in the Middle Ages

a) When was he made a Saint?
b) How was St. George important in the following events:

• • The Crusades?
  • The Battle of Antioch?
  • The establishment of the Order of the Garter?

c) Why did Howard Ruff start the Society of St. George?

3. The legend of St. George and the Dragon

a) Where did this famous battle take place?
b) What was the dragon doing to the country?
c) Describe the battle in your own words.

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Activity 2: A web-cross

• London

• Coventry
  

• Birmingham
  

• Scouting

• Canada
  

• Catalonia
  

• Bulgaria
  

• Norwich

 

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Across

• 3 Many ___ are sold in Catalonia on St. George's Day
• 4 In Bulgaria, St. George is the patron of ___.
• 6 St. George is the patron saint of only one animal, the ___.
• 10 The famous English author, ___, was born on St. George's Day.
• 12 In Canada, St. George's Day is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and ___.

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Down

• 1 The Book and Rose Fair is held in the Spanish city of ___.
• 2 St. George's Day is also the Day of ___ in Catalonia.
• 3 A legend in Coventry, England, says St. George was ___ there.
• 4 In London there will be a ----------- at Covent Garden with dancing and music.
• 5 St. George is the patron saint of Boy ___.
• 7 In Catalonia, on St. George's Day every man offers his love a ___.
• 8 Celebrations in Birmingham include__________food and arts and crafts.
• 9 Ukrainian Boy Scouts celebrate St. George's Day in the month of ___.
• 11 In Norwich the St George’s Day celebrations include a model dragon called_____.
• 13 In 2004, the children of Coventry, England, celebrated with a ___ of the legend.
  

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Extra activities

1. How much do you now know about St. George? Take the BBC Quiz:
   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1945854.stm
   
   
2. Send a St. George's Day card:
   
   www.dgreetings.com/stgeorge/cards/