St George's Day quiz: test your knowledge of England's patron saint

Saint George and the dragon, detail from an Italian fresco. Photograph: De Agostini/Getty Images

St George’s Day is England’s patron saint’s day – reputedly Shakespeare’s birthday, with the possibility we might get a new royal baby today, and the promise that a future Labour government would make it a holiday for all.

But Saint George is a truly pan-European saint, with traditions and celebrations associated with his martyrdom and legendary dragon-slaying taking place across the continent. How much do you know about Saint George and St George’s Day traditions around Europe? Find out with our quiz

Take our St George’s Day quiz

1. According to the stories of his martyrdom, where was Saint George executed for refusing to abandon Christianity in the year 303?

   1. Byzantium

   2. Nicomedia

   3. Carthage

   4. Elysium

2. Which red flower is traditionally given as a gift on St George's Day in Barcelona?

   1. Anthurium

   2. Tulips

   3. Poppies

   4. Roses

3. What was Saint George's occupation?

   1. Tinker

   2. Tailor

   3. Soldier

   4. Spy

4. "Saint George!" was the battle cry of which European navy in the late middle ages?

   1. Dutch Navy

   2. Belgian Navy

   3. Venetian Navy

   4. Portuguese Navy

5. Which two Mediterranean islands have Saint George among patron saints?

   1. Corsica and Sardinia

   2. Malta and Gozo

   3. Sicily and Sardinia

   4. Cyprus and Crete

6. Which English king first adopted the Saint George emblem of a red cross on a white background?

   1. Æthelred the Unready

   2. Henry V

   3. Richard the Lionheart

   4. William II

7. It is traditional to give your love a red flower on St George's Day in Catalonia. What could you expect as a gift in return?

   1. Food

   2. Books

   3. Something silver

   4. Wine

8. Which English chivalric club, set up by Edward III, invokes Saint George?

   1. Order of the Garter

   2. The Star Chamber

   3. Knights of the Royal Guelphic Order

   4. Knights of the Royal Oak

9. St George's Day is widely celebrated as one of the most important Name Days in Bulgaria. But when is it celebrated?

   1. 23 April

   2. 30 Apr

   3. 1 May

   4. 6 May

Solutions

1:B - St George is believed to have been beheaded outside the city walls of Nicomedia, after refusing to recant his faith to Emperor Diocletian., 2:D - It's roses. In the Catalan tradition, after Saint George slayed the dragon, roses sprouted from where the dragon's blood hit the ground, George fell in love with the princess he rescued, and the rest is history. A man is supposed to give his love one red rose with an ear of wheat - the single rose represents exclusivity, the colour red symbolises passion, and the ear of wheat stands for fertility., 3:C - Saint George was, according to the legend, a soldier in the Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian., 4:D - According to the book Daily Life in Portugal in the Late Middle Ages, the battle cry "Portugal and Saint George!" was used by the Portuguese army. The navy used the simplified form of just shouting "Saint George!", 5:B - Saint George is said to have intervened in battle on behalf of the Maltese alongside Saint Paul and Saint Agata, and St George's Basilica is one of the main churches on Gozo., 6:C - Richard the Lionheart's soldiers wore the emblem on their clothes while fighting in the Crusades, and contemporary chronicler Ambroise mentions the king invoking Saint George while in the Holy Land. According to historians, when he returned to England, he became the first king to set up a cult dedicated to the warrior saint., 7:B - It's books. Traditionally the man gave his lover a flower, she returns the favour with a book. 1.5m books are expected to be sold in Catalonia for Sant Jordi's Day (St George's Day) – making up about 8% of the region's annual book sales on just one day., 8:A - Edward III set up the Order of the Garter in 1348, and it still exists today. Appointments to the order are frequently announced on St George's Day., 9:D - Because the Orthodox church observes a different calendar to western Christian churches, St George's Day – or Gergyovden – falls on 6 May each year. It is the name day not just for Georgi, but for derivatives Galin, Galina, Galya, Ganka, Gancho, Genko, Genoveva, Gergana, Gergin, Gergina, Ginka, Gyuro and Zhorzh.

Scores

1. 7 and above.

   Well done! You are officially an expert on Saint George.

2. 0 and above.

   That was a struggle, wasn't it? It was a tough quiz.

3. 3 and above.

   Not bad - it was a tough quiz.