Hello everyone, 大家好！Happy St George's Day 圣乔治日快乐！  (Picture courtesy of Morley Observer) Who is St George? 我谈的当然不是乔治·克鲁尼，也不是乔治·华盛顿，而是英格兰的patron saint - 主保聖人。He's also the patron saint of countries like Portugal, Greece, and Canada, and he is commemorated on the 23rd of July in England.Although he was a real historical figure 历史人物, he is better-known in the UK for the legend 传说 about him. (Painting of St George by Italian artist Paolo Uccello)
The legend says that there was a town which was terrorised by a fearsome dragon. The people of the town had to give the dragon animals to eat to keep it happy, but when they ran out of animals they had to feed people to the dragon. One day, just when an innocent maiden 姑娘was about to be fed to the dragon, St George was passing on his white horse. He killed the dragon and freed the maiden.His victory is seen as a symbolic triumph 象征性的胜利 of good 善 over evil 恶。I think this is an interesting chance for some cultural comparison.In the West, dragons are seen as dangerous, winged 有翅膀的monsters that kill and eat people, live in caves 山洞 and breathe fire 喷火. Western dragons look a bit like dinosaurs 恐龙。In China they are seen as lucky creatures, as well as being a symbol of Chinese emperors. Chinese people call themselves 'descendants of the dragon' 龙的传人。Dragon years in the Chinese zodiac生肖are also very popular years to have babies.This seems like a big difference to me, but I'm interested in what you think.Please write in with your thoughts.Now, how do people celebrate St George's Day in England?To be honest, most people don't celebrate St George's Day in England. But in the town of Morley in Yorkshire in England people have been celebrating over the whole weekend, some were dressed in medieval costume 中世纪的服装and paraded 游行through the streets.
(Picture courtesy of Morley Observer)
If you're interested in St George and other British customs click here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/lifeintheuk/story/2006/03/060314_ukfestivals2.shtml
Or why not read a new poem about him commissioned by English Heritage:http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.18877That's all from me for today.
Only one question today:
1) Please tell me your thoughts about the differences between Western and Chinese dragons, 别忘了把你对西方和中国龙的区别的想法写给我！
Bye!Finn![]() |
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