A History, Faith And Celebration

Are you wondering what are the patron saints of the UK? I lived in the UK for more than a decade now, and every year the four Kingdoms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland celebrate their patron saints. I will share with you the four patron saints of the UK.

So, what exactly is a patron saint? Patron saints are those who act as guiding and protective forces for people of a particular vocation or occupation. From academics to zookeepers, there’s a patron saint for everyone – even clowns!

The Patron Saints of the UK are St. George for England, St. Patrick for Northern Ireland, St. Andrew for Scotland, and St. David for Wales. These saints represent the unique heritage and culture of each nation and continue to be celebrated to this day.

Read on to learn more about the history and significance of these patron saints and their continuing importance in the UK.

Read more: British Culture: Great Traditions and Celebrations in the UK

Here are the 4 Patron Saints of the UK:

1. ST. GEORGE – The Patron Saint of England

Have you ever wondered about the real story of St George? While the legend of a brave knight fighting a dragon may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the patron saint of England, the truth is far more interesting. Let’s take a closer look at the life of St George and the events that led to him becoming one of the most famous saints in history.

According to the tale, a dragon was terrorizing a town, and the townsfolk offered sacrifices to prevent their destruction. When they ran out of offerings, the dragon began to demand people, and even the town’s princess was chosen to be sacrificed. But St George, a Christian soldier in the Roman army, appeared just in time and slayed the dragon, saving the town and the princess. Although dragons may be mythical, St George’s bravery and selflessness were not.

St George was martyred for refusing to denounce his Christian faith and persecute his fellow Christians. It was this act of valiant defence that earned him sainthood. He wouldn’t become the patron saint of England until King Edward III chose him in 1348 when he formed the Order of the Garter. King Edward was inspired by St George’s legend and the virtues he represented – courage in the face of adversity and the protection of the innocent.

In addition to being the patron saint of England, St George is also the patron saint of soldiers, archers, chivalry, cavalry, riders and saddlers, and farmers and field hands. Despite his true story being less dramatic than the legend, St George remains a symbol of bravery and selflessness for people from all walks of life.

So how did St. George come to be England’s patron saint? In fact, King Edward III established the Order of the Garter in St. George’s honour in 1350, making him the Patron Saint of England. King Henry V furthered the cult of the Saint at the northern French battle of Agincourt.

Shakespeare included the famous line, “Cry God for Harry, England and St. George!” at the end of King Henry V’s pre-battle speech to ensure that no one would ever forget St. George.

Many of the traits of the saint were believed to be exhibited by King Henry himself, who was both warlike and pious.

St. George’s Day, celebrated on April 23rd, is the feast day of Saint George. Traditionally, the day is marked by the wearing of a red rose, which is also England’s national flower, and by flying the St. George’s Cross flag. Many towns and cities across England hold parades and festivals to celebrate the day, often including traditional English foods, music, and dance.

Some areas also hold jousting tournaments and other medieval-themed events, as St. George is often depicted as a knight slaying a dragon. In recent years, there have been calls for St. George’s Day to be made a national holiday in England.

Fun fact: Shakespeare was reportedly born on or around St. George’s Day in 1564 and, if the legend is to be believed, passed away on St. George’s Day in 1616. Perhaps a fitting end for the man who contributed to Saint’s immortalization in English culture. Edmund the Maryr, a saint

Saint Edmund – The Original Patron Saint of England

St. Edmund, also known as Edmund the Martyr, the Anglo-Saxon King of East Anglia, served as England’s patron saint for more than 300 years. Up until 869/70, when his forces were routed, Edmund fought alongside King Alfred of Wessex against the pagan Viking and Norse invaders.

When ordered to give up his faith and share power with the Norsemen after being captured, Edmund refused. Before being beheaded, Edmund was tied to a tree and used as a target by the Viking bowmen.

2. ST. ANDREW – The Patron Saint of Scotland

St. Andrew may not be as well-known as St. Patrick or St. George, but the people of Scotland hold a special place in their hearts for the Apostle of the Apostles. In fact, in Scotland, his legacy has been celebrated for more than a thousand years! Even though he wasn’t officially recognized as the patron saint of Scotland until 1320, Scots had been celebrating his life with feasts and parties for centuries prior to that.

The account of the crucifixion of Saint Andrew is one that is not only moving but also motivational. It is said that the Roman governor of Greece at the time, Aegeas, handed down the sentence of death by crucifixion against him.

St. Andrew, on the other hand, considered himself unworthy of suffering such a fate and therefore refused to be crucified in the same way that Jesus was. Instead, he asked for his cross to be fashioned in the form of an ‘X.’ The distinctive request that St. Andrew made is commemorated in the design of the Scottish flag, which is known as the Saltire and features a white diagonal cross on a blue background.

However, the significance of Saint Andrew is not limited to the people of Scotland. In addition to that, he is venerated as the patron saint of a number of other nations, including Russia and Romania. In addition, he is the patron saint of a number of different occupations and groups of people, including those who make rope, women who are pregnant, singers, miners, textile workers, and fishermen.

So, how do people in Scotland celebrate the feast day of Saint Andrew?

St. Andrew’s Day is celebrated in Scotland on November 30 of each year with traditional feasts and festivities. The holiday is named after Saint Andrew. Scots have a variety of options for how they can celebrate the festival. Parties consist of activities such as games and dancing, as well as the consumption of a large quantity of delectable food and drink. In addition, St. Andrew’s societies can be found on every continent, and local celebrations of the holiday can be found in those societies.

However, regardless of where in the world you are located, the legacy of St. Andrew, which is characterized by kindness, caring, responsibility, and trustworthiness, is something that we can all strive to imitate.

Fun fact: The St. Andrews town in Scotland was named in honour of Saint Andrew. It is known that St. Andrews is the final resting place of the saint. St. Regulus brought the relics of of Saint Andrew to Kilyrmont (the original name of St. Andrews town), where the shrine was established in honour, safekeeping and veneration of the saint.

3. ST. DAVID – The Patron Saint of Wales

St. David, the patron saint of Wales, has a unique distinction among the UK’s patron saints as he is the only saint who was born in the country he represents. Born in the 6th century as a monk, St. David spent his life travelling through Wales, creating monasteries and churches and spreading the word of God.

Though much of what we know about him is based on tradition, his life of pious austerity and miraculous acts of healing and blessings of bees have been kept alive through word-of-mouth.

Legend has it that when preaching, the ground would rise beneath St. David, allowing him to reach more people. He was known for his piety and humility, and even during his final moments, he asked his followers to “do the little things in life.” After his death, St. David’s teachings and miracles continued to spread across Britain, eventually leading to his canonization by Pope Callixtus II in 1120.

His monasteries were known for their strict adherence to rules, and their influence can still be seen in the Welsh church today. In addition, St. David is also known for his contributions to the Welsh language and literature.

His work, “The Sayings of the Wise,” is considered one of the earliest pieces of Welsh literature, and he is credited with helping to preserve the Welsh language and culture during a time when it was under threat. Despite the lack of historical documentation about St. David, his legacy continues to inspire and unite the people of Wales.

Now, St. David is celebrated every year on March 1st, which is St. David’s Day, a public holiday in Wales. The Welsh flag bears a yellow cross on a black background, which is said to symbolize St. David’s yellow robes and black tunic.

Celebrations usually involve parades, concerts, traditional Welsh food, and dressing up in the national costume of Wales. The traditional meal for St. David’s Day is Welsh rarebit, which is a dish made with melted cheese and beer, and served on toast. Daffodils, the national flower of Wales, are also commonly used to decorate homes, schools, and public places on this day.

Many people also wear a leek, another national symbol of Wales, on St. David’s Day. The holiday is a time to celebrate Welsh heritage and culture and to remember the contributions of St. David to the country.

4. ST. PATRICK – The Patron Saint of Northern Ireland

While St Patrick’s is often associated with shamrocks, green beer, and parades, there is much more to this beloved saint. Legend says that St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people, and today the shamrock is a symbol of Irish heritage.

Contrary to popular belief, St Patrick did not actually drive all the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea. It turns out that the cold and wet climate in Ireland has prevented snakes from ever inhabiting the country.

So, what did St Patrick really do?

Born in Britain in the late 4th century, St Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a teenager. After six years, he escaped and fled to France, where he studied to become a priest. Despite his ordeal in Ireland, St Patrick felt called to return to the island to spread the Christian faith.

St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century and is considered the founder of Christianity in Ireland. As the first bishop in Irish history, he played a significant role in converting the Irish people to Christianity. At the time, the majority of the population still followed ancient Celtic polytheistic practices, which were considered heretical by the Catholic Church.

St Patrick used his knowledge of the Celtic faiths to make Christianity more accessible to the Irish people. The legend of him driving out snakes may have been a symbol of his success in driving out heathens and druids who still followed the heretical practices. So, while St Patrick did not rid Ireland of snakes, he did help to shape the country’s religious landscape and bring the Irish people into the fold of the Christian faith.

He is also credited with founding many churches and monasteries throughout Ireland, and his missionary work was instrumental in the spread of Christianity throughout the country. Today, St Patrick is the patron saint of Northern Ireland, as well as engineers and Ophidiophobes.

In addition to his religious contributions, St Patrick’s has also become a cultural icon. St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17th, the death anniversary of Saint Patrick.

It is a day when people around the world celebrate Irish culture and heritage, often by wearing green and participating in parades, music, dance, and other festivities.

Due to many Irish immigrants in the USA, many cities in the United States, dye their rivers or fountains green in honour of the holiday. Traditional Irish foods and drinks such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and Guinness are also commonly consumed on St. Patrick’s Day. It is indeed a global celebration.

I hope that inspired you and appreciate the Christian festivities here in the UK in celebrating each country’s patron saint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

Travel Blog

Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.