Blue coats for St George

23 April

No longer kept

Hone recorded that until the beginning of the nineteenth century people of fashion wore coats of blue cloth on St George’s Day. Hone thought it a reasonable guess that blue was worn as the national colour in honour of the national saint, though antiquaries such as Archdeacon Nares could not find the true origin of the custom, which was old. In earlier times, Hone adds, the day was kept with splendid pageants.

people of fashion were accustomed, even to the beginning of the nineteenth century, to wear coats of cloth of blue

From Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. 2, cols. 537-538. Read the original

Get a copy: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links.

Also on this day

Folklore from the old calendars

The St George’s Day bells at Chester No longer kept CheshireIn 1609 or 1610 the sheriff of Chester, Robert Amory, had three silver bells made to be run for by horses on the Roodee every St George's Day, the winner keeping the best bell for a year.
The mail-coach procession No longer kept LondonKing George IV, born on 12 August, moved the keeping of his birthday to St George's Day, and on the king's birthday the London mail coaches went in yearly procession.
The swan against the wind Lore and belief SurreyA man living on the Thames at Kingston told Hone that when a swan flew any distance against the wind, however fine the weather looked, a wind of almost hurricane strength was certain within twenty-four hours, and usually within twelve.
When the bull leads the herd Lore and belief EnglandHone quotes an old book on husbandry for signs of rain in cattle.
Riding the George at Leicester No longer kept LeicestershireAt Leicester the riding of the George was one of the chief ceremonies of the town year.
The St George pageant at Dublin No longer kept LeinsterThe chain book of the city of Dublin laid down who was to provide what for the St George's Day pageant.
St George cries go, St Mark cries ho Lore and belief WiltshireAubrey noted a Wiltshire proverb pairing two April saints' days two days apart, St George's on the 23rd and St Mark's on the 25th.
Harebells for St George Lore and belief EnglandThe wild bluebell covered the fields about St George's Day, and was held a fitting emblem of England's patron saint, since blue was worn on his feast.
Horse-skins for St George at Reading No longer kept BerkshireIn 1536 the churchwardens of Reading paid for a St George and his horse to be made up in the church, with a loft for the saint to stand on.

Blue coats for St George

Also on this day

Questions and comments

Image credits