Manchester, UK 27th April, 2014. St George's weekend celebrations, a family event held in Albert Square and Piccadilly, an extension of the annual St George Parade and a venture to help celebrate England's Patron Saint, with many activities & performers. Manchester embraces the days when both national festivals and parades aim to bring the city together and provide Mancunians with an event where different national identities are celebrated. Credit: Cernan Elias/Alamy Live News
A giant St George on horseback, real English shire horses, morris dancers, and St George’s knights and dragon among the array of diverse traditional and modern characters of English culture, in the parade of decorated floats, bands and dancers as it winded its way through the city. The route included Oldham Road, Piccadilly Gardens, Great Ancoats Street and Bradford Road. St. George is the patron saint of England. His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. St George's emblem was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. The king's soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle. England's patron saint, a fourth century Christian martyr, is also patron saint of Georgia and the city of Moscow. Very little is known about the real St George. He is thought to have been born into a noble Christian family in the late third century in Cappadocia, an area which is now in Turkey. He followed his father's profession of soldier and became part of the retinue of the Emperor Diocletian. The emperor ordered the systematic persecution of Christians and George refused to take part. In 303, he was himself tortured and executed in Palestine, becoming an early Christian martyr. The legend of George slaying a dragon and rescuing an innocent maiden from death is medieval. St George's Day is celebrated in England on 23 April, reputed to be the day of George's martyrdom in 303.
Size: 3024px × 2048px
Location: Varley Street Manchester
Photo credit: © Cernan Elias / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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