Many countries celebrate the day in various ways. The family of one of our son’s Serbian friends holds an annual feast to which we have a standing invitation. I have been doing a small George for them for some years. Here is the one I just finished to send with the boys. It quite tiny, about four inches square. It has a gold glaze over most of it, because the Serbs like icons. This is definitely not an icon, but uses elements.
These days slaying dragons is not politically correct, what with preserving endangered species and all, so my guess is that this George just goes out for an annual joust to rescue the princess every year, because one needs a good celebration.
Could you explain who St. George was and why he is celebrated? I read about him recently in a church history book but it was only a sentence or two.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are very into dragons lately, but with the contemporary twist of dragons being useful and friendly. They find the idea of hunting them down quite horrifying these days...
ReplyDeleteSecond try on response. My i-Pad doesn't let me respond, so I could not earlier this weekend from Singrüeni.
ReplyDeleteThe historical figure of George spoke out against Roman persecution of Christians, for which he was subsequently martyred. Thus the dragon symbolises the evil of anti-Chrisitan attacks. Though it would seem that the dragon won that round, ultimately we know that The Word will conquer. Thus, countries who celebrate George's fight, are celebrating their Christian heritage in the face of those who would stifle it. Not a bad idea.
There are infinite versions of the story and depictions thereof in many, many European and Middle Eastern countries. It is widely used in literature, including by Shakespeare in three king plays, Spencer's FAIRY QUEEN, and more recently in oodles of re-telling (loose or otherwise) with modifications of the dragon becoming friendly, or the whole being a spoof, and other adaptations, up to the Disney versions of Pete's Dragon, Eliot. Current national celebrations also have very little in common with the original preservation of Christianity, But the roots are there.
So, Katie, your children can have have the "happy" version, if they like. They should know, though, the origins, and that Biblically the dragon is Satan and all his followers, and therefore it must and will be defeated and killed.
One should also see from this story and Biblical references to similar terrifying creatures, that dragons did live on earth, and maybe breathed fire (Like bombardier beetles making their explosions), and that when they were fairly wide-spread and wreaking havoc, (Grendal of Beowulf's story) that defeating them would be necessary at times, if they were set on carrying off princesses and such. Now-a-days, of course, if one were sighted, say at Loch Ness, he would be an endangered species and one might be inclined to protect him, if he is not bothering any princesses, at least.
ReplyDeleteFor those young people who like helpful dragons, I am advised to recommend the Eragon series to read.
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