If St George isn't English, how come he's England's patron saint?
Celebrating 12 million questions in four years, AQA 63336 sets out the facts behind St George's Day
22 April 2008
The UK's most popular text question and answer service, AQA 63336, today announces that it has answered over 12 million questions from 1.5 million customers since launching on 22 April 2004. With St Georges Day tomorrow, AQA 63336 also reveals the top questions asked about England's patron saint, with answers that may be surprising to some.
"When AQA 63336 launched in April 2004, as the world's first premium text–based question and answer service, we had 10 researchers answering 100 questions a day. Due to our focus on providing fast answers with high quality, in four years AQA 63336 has grown to 1,400 researchers answering over 19,500 questions a day," said Paul Cockerton, Communications Director.
AQA's researchers are all home based, predominantly in the UK, and have handled peaks of over 25,000 questions in a day. The researchers work whenever they want, but have to provide answers to any question in one single text message, using correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.
"We've thousands of smart researchers who strive to provide not only fast, accurate answers, but also answers that enchant, delight and surprise customers. It's not just about facts, it's also providing advice and entertainment. We want customers to feel that they've spent £1 wisely texting 63336, and will come back for more," continued Cockerton.
During April one of the most popular question themes is about St George, the patron saint of England. Given that many customers were unaware that not only was St George not English, but he never visited England during his lifetime, AQA 63336 is publishing its top questions and answers about St George's Day.
Texts to AQA 63336 (Any Question Answered) cost £1 or new customers can ask a question free from www.aqa.63336.com.
Top questions and answers about St George's Day:
Q. When did St George become patron saint?
A. St Edmund was the original patron saint of England. It was during the reign of King Edward III (1327–1377) that St George's status became established.
Q. Why was St George chosen as the patron?
A. St George was chosen as patron saint of England around 1348 because of his bravery protesting against Rome 's persecution of Christians.
Q. When is St George's day?
A. St George's Day falls on 23 April. St George is the patron saint of England but lived in Palestine. He never set foot in England during his lifetime.
Q. Why is St George's day 23rd April?
A. St George's Day in the England has always been celebrated on April 23rd. It is the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in 303.
Q. Where was St George from?
A. St George was from Cappadocia in Asia Minor (now Turkish) but was from a Christian family, hence the Greek Christian name. Many Greeks lived in Turkey.
Q. Why is St George flag red and white?
A. Richard Lionheart is said to have dreamt of St George with a red cross banner during the Crusades. This then became symbolic of England, hence the flag.
Q. Where else is St George patron of?
A. St George is the patron saint of Aragon, Canada, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia and Serbia.
Q. What year did George slay the dragon?
A. The legend of St George slaying a dragon has no specific date. The earliest known depiction of it occurring is from early 11th century.
Q. Why did George slay the dragon?
A. St George saves the princess by slaying a dragon. This myth is linked to the Greek myth of Perseus and Andromeda. In Sweden the princess represents Sweden.
Q. Where did St George slay the dragon?
A. According to legend, St George, a roman soldier, slew a dragon, using a sword named Ascalon, near Silena, in Libya.
Q. Is St George the patron saint of any other country?
A. St George is the patron saint of Aragon, Canada, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia and Serbia and more.
Q. What englishman is said to have been born and died on the same as our patron saint?
A. William Shakespeare was born and died on 23 April, which is St George's Day in the English calendar. St George is the patron saint of England.
Q. Who are the saints of the UK and what are their days?
A. British saints: Scotland – St Andrew, 30 Nov. Wales – St David, 1 March. England – St George, 23 April. Northern Ireland – St Kevin, 3 June.
Q. How come George was beautified for killing a dragon, but if I kill a frog with a penknife I get nicked by the RSPCA?
A. St George was ridding the neighbourhood of a fearsome and terrorising beast. Frogs are not exactly dangerous to other people, and shouldn't be harmed.
Q. Where is St George's channel?
A. St George's Channel is a strait, 160 km long and 80–153 km wide, linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. It separates SE Ireland from Wales.
Q. Why is Inter Milan's away kit the St George's cross?
A. Inter Milan doesn't wear St George's flag – the red cross on a white background is also the flag of the old Kingdom of Genoa, of which Milan was a part.
Q. How did the area, and the pub its named after, originally get its name? The area is called elephant and castle?
A. The elephant and castle is a traditional symbol of St George. A local pub named itself after them, and then the area took its name from the pub.
Q. Does Wayne Rooney have an Everton tattoo?
A. The football player Wayne Rooney has a St George's flag and the words "English And Proud" emblazoned on his shoulder. He does not have an Everton tattoo.
Notes to Editors:
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