1. Legend says St. George killed a dragon to save a princess. But the real St. George was a 4th century Roman martyr, who died in Palestine, who probably never visited Britain.

2. St. George became the patron saint of England in 1415 when Henry V beat the French at Agincourt.

3. St. George's Cross was first used as the English flag by the crusaders. The saint was supposed to have appeared to knights dressed in white robes with a red cross.

4. In medieval times it was believed if you killed a snake before a St. George's Day you would be blessed with with magical powers.

5. You can now send St. George's Day greeting cards.

6. In Barcelona it is traditional to give a book on St. George's Day.

7. The Royal Society of St. began in 1770 as a charity to help poor colonists. They now have 100 branches.

8. In 1384, King Edward III established The Order of The Garter for knights in honour of St. George.

9. Lithuanians revere St. George as the guardian of animals.

10. Many people including some MPs wear a red rose on St. George's Day, but the saint's traditional colour is in fact blue.

11. When people say "By George!" they actually mean "By St. George!".

12. In 1996, the Church of England promoted St. George's Day to a full holy festival day.

13. St. George is the patron saint of Scouts, horsemen, saddlers, butchers, skin diseases and expectant mothers!

14. Several places in England claim to be the site of St. George's battle with the dragon.

15. Since the 13th century Salisbury has held a St. George's Day festival where a dragon is paraded.

16. St. George is also the patron saint for the Czech Republic, Portugal, Lithuania, Hungry and Russia.

17. In the Middle East people invoke the powers of St. George to expel demons.

18. On St. George's Day cattle used to be crowned with greenery before being led into fields.

19. A Bournemouth firm supplies St. George's Day shields, flags and even crowns.

20. St. George's Day is also the birthday of William Shakespeare.