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==Later depictions and occurrences==
In any case, it was through this legend that George would reach his greatest popularity. During the early [[2nd millennium]] and long after his death, George came to be seen as the original "knight in shining armour" (and still on horseback), thus serving as an idealised model of chivalry. And it was also during this time that George would come to be depicted in works of literature, mostly medieval romances.
==Colours==The "Colours of Saint George" (more commonly called St George's Cross) are a white flag with a red cross, frequently borne by entities over which he is patron (e.g. England, Georgia, Liguria, Catalonia etc).
Diada de Sant Jordi added + more specific about the given presents.
==Veneration as a martyr==
The validity of the above account is considered questionable at best. However, his veneration as a martyr appears to have started relatively early. A church in his honour was reportedly built in Lydda during the reign of [[Constantine I of the Roman Empire|Constantine IGreat]] (reigned [[306]]–[[337]], sole emperor since [[324]]). The church was destroyed in [[1010]] but was later rebuilt by the Crusaders. In [[1191]] and during the conflict known as the Third Crusade ([[1189]]–[[1192]]), the church was again destroyed by the forces of Saladin, Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty (reigned [[1171]]–[[1193]]). A new church was erected in [[1872]] and is still standing.
During the [[4th century]] the veneration of George seems to have spread from Palestine to the rest of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. The [[5th century]] would see his fame reach the Western Roman Empire as well. In [[494]], George was canonised as a saint by Pope Gelasius I (term [[492]]–[[496]]). However Gelasius included George among those "…whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." This statement would not prevent the creation of several differing accounts about his life, several of them filled with miracles. According to the ''Catholic Encyclopedia'', the earliest text preserving fragments of George's highly miraculous narrative is in Acta Sanctorum identified by Hippolyte Delehaye of the scholarly Bollandists to be a palimpsest of the [[5th century]], 'full beyond belief of extravagances and of quite incredible marvels'.
==Patronage and remembrance==
In [[1969]], Saint George's feast day was reduced to an optional memorial in the Roman Catholic calendar, and the solemnity of his commemoration depends on purely local observance. He is however still honoured as a saint of major importance by [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].
His feast date, [[April 23]], is the Day of Aragon (Spain) and is also holiday in Catalonia (SpainDiada de Sant Jordi) where it is traditional to give a rose (the male to the female) and a book (the female to the male) to the loved one.
St George's Day is also celebrated with parades in those countries of which he is the patron saint.
