A toast to the dragon slayer

The red and white emblem is out in full force and the chilled pints are being prepared as I write this. Despite it not being a national holiday, St George’s Day sees one of Britain’s most beloved celebrations create an indescribable vibe every April 23. And, thanks to the over seven thousand expats who have made our islands their home, the festivities are spreading even to Malta and Gozo.  I spoke with Mr Peter Robinson, Chairman of the British Residents’ Association Council, about the rituals and traditions tied to this holiday. “Although technically it’s not a public holiday, in Britain different villages tend to come up with their own celebrations and the vibe is certainly a jolly one. You can tell that it’s time to remember St George from the way all the gentlemen put a red rose on their lapels. This is supposed to signify the rose that grew from the blood of the slain dragon. British expats in Malta do get rather nostalgic about this sort of thing, which is why we will be celebrating this Sunday with a gala dinner featuring some traditionally British recipes.” One ingredient that definitely plays an important part in these celebrations is the good, traditional English ale.