Sir, In an attempt to pre-empt the annual complaints about England’s failure to celebrate (or even to acknowledge) St George’s Day, I should like to make a modest proposal which I hope might rectify the apathy in a creative way.

In those parts of Spain (such as Aragon and Catalonia) which commemorate the life of St George, there is frequently found a well-established tradition in which, on St George’s Day, people give to their friends or their children a book. Indeed in some towns April 23 is known as “Book Day” and is celebrated enthusiastically. Almost all schools actively encourage parents and pupils to sustain the tradition and give guidance where requested on the range of books that may prove suitable.

Their celebration is drawn from the popular legend of St George in which the young lady or princess he released from the dragon’s captivity gratefully rewarded him with the present of a book. In some areas of Spain I understand that the legend is also romantically enacted by young men giving to their lovers a red rose, again in commemoration of St George’s reputedly having given to the young lady the flower that had sprung from the blood of the slain dragon.

I suggest that similar practices should be activated in England. Most parents will share with teachers the desire to encourage reading so even the Education and Culture ministers might be politically stimulated to give the scheme positive support. At a commercial level the relevant large organisations such as Foyles, Ottakar’s, Waterstone’s — even Interflora — would benefit directly and might even be encouraged to sell a St George’s Day card, alongside each book or flower sale, the proceeds going to a major charity of which the good St George would approve.

JOHN BECKETT
Battle, E Sussex

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