England Gifts for St Georges Day

There aren’t many dragons left in Sheffield or Swindon, and people in England don’t carry swords for fear of meeting one in Tesco’s car park. So it’s strange that a man who did kill one, over fifteen hundred years ago, is still a national hero. St. George wasn’t even English – as far as we know he never set foot in Britain. He was a Roman citizen, and a Roman soldier.

George was probably born in Cappadocia, in modern-day Turkey, sometime during the second century AD. He would have been a social outcast from birth, because his Christian parents refused to worship the Roman gods. Despite his background, George is supposed to have joined the army and risen quickly to the rank of tribune. You usually had to be rich and well connected to get that far – George was neither, so he must have been a tough and determined young man.

This determination showed itself when the Roman emperor Diocletian (AD 254-313) cracked down on the Christians. George tore up the order that told him to persecute members of his parents’ religion – and it cost him his life. He was given a final chance to make a pagan sacrifice. When he refused he was dragged through the streets of his home city of Lydda and beheaded.

The church made George a saint soon afterwards. He is patron of countries like Portugal, Germany and Greece, and of farmers and soldiers.

St. George has been patron saint of England since the thirteenth century. His popularity grew after 1483 when printer William Caxton published the Golden Legend – the story of St. George saving a princess from a dragon. The story symbolises St. George’s defence of the church, represented by the princess, against the ‘dragon’ of the Roman government.

The soldierly St. George was very popular in fifteenth century England. The Hundred Years’ War against the French had finished not long before, and the Wars of the Roses were in full swing. George was even said to have appeared at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 to help the outnumbered English army.

Shakespeare – who was born and died on a St. George’s day, 23rd April – certainly knew this story. In the playwright’s Henry V the English king inspires his troops before the battle by ordering them to ‘cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!’

We know that the most famous story about St George is just a myth. Yet his symbol is still on the English flag and the national football and rugby shirts today.

The George Cross – the UK’s highest award for civilian bravery – bears an image of the saint slaying the dragon. He may not have been quite what we imagine, but St. George remains an example of steadfastness and bravery to this day.

If you are looking for England gifts for your celebrations and for supporting England at sporting events, view this 30 second clip for some unique ideas for England Gifts:

This week we’ve had lots of fun visiting schools, play groups and after schools clubs making Easter bonnets. Glass Jar Gifts Easter bonnets are full of fun and we hear of lots of success stories from customers contacting us to say their Easter bonnet won the Easter bonnet competition in the Easter parades. You can purchase an Easter bonnet kit here.

The kit contains an Easter bonnet, fluffy Easter chicks, Easter embellishments, wooden shapes, decorative flowers, tissue paper in spring colours, Easter ribbon, pipe cleaners, wooden carrots and craft pegs. The craft pegs are great for pegging messages to your Easter Bonnet, photographs or other fun Easter crafts you have made.

Bunny rabbits and lambs are often associated with Easter because of new life and new birth and new born bunnies and lambs being born at this time of year. Rabbits, bunnies and lambs are symbols and signs of good luck and new life.

There are lots of flowers associated with spring. You may wish to include these on your Easter bonnet too. Flowers Festivals are held all over the world at Easter time. White lilies reprsent purity and goodness.

If you make an Easter bonnet, we’d love to see your pictures. Please email them into us.

Visit our Easter page for lots of fun ideas for themed hobby, interest and craft gifts at Glass Jar Gifts

Helen has been following the Glass Jar Gifts crochet and knitting pattern to make a fantastic brood. We are very impressed that Helen has been knitting and crocheting the Easter chicks. Don’t they look cute!

We are sharing pictures from Helen’s blog and Twitter feed @bakingaitch

Glass Jar Gifts Easter Knitting and Crochet Chicks kit is great fun. The chicks take about 1 hour to make completely right through to sewing up and tying on a bow. Each knitted or crocheted chick can hold a chocolate egg or similar such as a wooden or plastic egg filled with treats or other little gifts. Jane Chew of Lancaster wrote in to share her tip of adding little lego mini figures characters into the chicks for children’s parties. Jane tells us they are perfect to put inside the egg. We’ve just ordered some on Amazon as they look very cute. It is a great idea for spring parties and childrens parties.

Sandra Taylor wrote in from Lincoln to say that she has made Easter chicks and is displaying them on her dining room table as place names. She has made little tags that she has threaded through the ribbon bow around the neck of the chicks. What a cute idea! Each guest dining on Easter Sunday at Sandra’s house will go away with a lovely Easter chick with a treat inside.

We love seeing pictures of things you’ve made from Glass Jar Gifts so do keep sending in your pictures. Enjoy a Happy Easter and lots of fun!

Today we received this beautiful card from Barbara Lee in Cumbria who wrote:

“Thank you for your wonderful service in sending to me by return of post your knitting chicks gift in a jar! I have had such a great time knitting them, also they take no time at all. Thought that you might like to see my little brood and have enclosed a photograph.

Grateful thanks once again and best wihses to a wonderful team!”

Barbara Lee, Cumbria

Barbara purchased Glass Jar Gifts Knitted Easter Chicks. The kit comes with both the pattern to crochet or knit the chicks. Isn’t the card lovely. Barbara has even made a lovely nest for her new brood. We think they look very comfortable and happy after being newly hatched from their jar in Cumbria.

Thank you Barbara for sharing!

Our knitted Easter chicks and crochet chicks are featured in Popular Crafts magazine this month. These knitted and crochet Easter chicks make wonderful small gifts and can be refilled year on year. Make a whole brood and have  in a basket to give out to guests or use as table place settings on Easter Sunday.

Is anyone taking part in some egg rolling this Easter? Egg rolling is a tradition in England and usually takes place on Easter Monday. Hard boiled eggs are rolled down hills. The winner is the one whose egg rolls the furthest the fastest and survives. Boiled eggs are traditionally served at breakfast on Easter Sunday. They represent new life.

Visit our Easter page for lots of Easter crafts and Easter gifts ideas.

The Glass Jar Gifts Easterkit contains both the pattern to crochet Easter chicks or to knit them. The Glass Jar Gift contains the pattern, wool, filling, ribbons and chocolate eggs.

It is beautifully wrapped in a satin ribbon and gift tag to be personalised.

These Easter chicks can be reused year on year and will become sweet characters year on year. You can fill them with chocolate eggs or purchase plastic or wooden eggs to fill them with treats. Easter eggs and Easter chicks are always associated with Easter because they symbolise new life and signs of fertility. They are perfect for Spring time and Easter. Christians associate chicks and eggs with new life and the ressurection of Jesus Christ.

Ancient Egyptians and Persians celebrated their New Year in the Spring time and used to colour and decorate eggs to decorate their homes. You still see this tradition today, particularly wooden eggs painted in Easter European countries. Today, chocolate eggs have replaced wooden eggs in many countries.

Enjoy personalising your gifts with different coloured ribbons provided in the kit.

Each chick takes about 1 hour end to end to make, from knitting or crocheting them to sewing up and filling and decorating with a cute bow.

They make great gifts. Make a whole basket of them and have them in your home to give out to visitors.

The kids loved it and produced some great Easter Egg Decorations. They learned how to weave their baskets and decorate eggs. They painted the eggs first and then decorated them with embelishments, ribbons and buttons. The kits are available here: Easter Basket and Eggs

Glass Jar Gifts sells a fantastic range of creative arts and childrens crafts kits in a jar. Glass Jar Gifts for children and the kids crafts jars help children to use different skills, for example, imagination, judgement and philosophy; making them versatile and very dynamic. If children are withdrawn, art can be an excellent outlet for hidden emotions, which helps children to verbalise emotions and express thoughts and feelings that they might suppress. By engaging in art, children are likely to initiate processes that help them manage stress, reduce negative mood states and perhaps change behaviour that impacts their recovery and development. Learning through art will develop children’s social, personal and cognitive skills.

Did you know that the first Easter egg was given to Tsar (King) Alexander III’s wife of Russia during the early 20^th century by the jeweller Carl Faberge. It was made of gold and white enamel with a golden yolk inside containing a golden hen with ruby eyes and inside the hen was a tiny golden crown for the Queen. The egg was so beautiful that the King ordered for an egg to be made every year by Faberge with a gift inside.

The tradition of giving eggs at Easter time is associated with signs of new life and good luck. Why not make your eggs and present them in a woven basket as a gift for Easter and give someone lots of good luck.

Have fun Easter Crafting! Add a comment and share what you’ve been making or any ideas for Easter.

Do you have plans for Easter? We love Easter themed children’s parties and encouraging everyone to be involved in some egg citing crafts projects. Glass Jar Gifts kids crafts kits are a great way for children to be active and creative during the Easter holidays.

Our Easter mask glass jar gift contains three designs to make.

How about an Easter Egg mask?

Or dress up as a spring lamb:

Or how about a white rabbit easter bunny?

Children love to dress up and as well as these masks, they will love to make and wear an Easter bonnet Perfect for the Easter Parade.

We’ve received lots of lovely letters from happy Mums and children who have won the Easter Bonnet competition with their kit from Glass Jar Gifts.

Do you have any Easter Egg Trails planned? There are lots taking place at National Trust Properties around the country or you could plan one in your local park or garden.

Glass Jar Gifts also has a fun Easter Egg basket and egg decorating kit. Children can weave their own Easter basket for collecting eggs in and also make and decorate their own easter eggs.

There’s lots of fun to be had at Easter time and it does not all have to be chocolate related. It is fun to play outdoors at Easter dressing up and painting eggs if the sun is shining. If it raining then crafting is perfect indoors and you could also look our for some Easter films such as Winnie the Pooh – Springtime with Roo and Yogi the Easter Bear.

For March 17 sees the annual global ‘Greenfest’ of  celebrations in honour of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. What the man himself, the most devoted and humble of God-fearing priests, would make of the parties in his name, surely beggars belief.

For centuries, St Patrick’s Day has been honoured by Irish – and non-Irish folk – and has become synonymous with all things Irish. The ‘wearing of the green,’ parades, shamrocks, Guinness and good luck all play a major role as the faithful pay tribute to Ireland’s favourite son.

But, who is Patrick, anyway?

He was born in the late fourth century and is reputed to have lived in Western Scotland. Legend has it, at 16 years of age he was taken by Irish pirates and sold into slavery, working in solitude as a shepherd for six years.

He developed a profound faith in God and, spurred on by visions, escaped back to the mainland. Patrick travelled to Europe to train for the priesthood and, on his return to Britain, was inspired in a dream to realise his life’s mission – the conversion of Ireland to Christianity.

Patrick was not the first to bring Christianity to the Irish pagans, but he was arguably the most effective. He impressed King Laoghaire, using the shamrock to demonstrate the Trinity; one stalk, but three separate leaves, one God but with three entities – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Hence the significance of the shamrock in the March 17 celebrations.

Laoghaire remained a pagan but allowed Patrick to set up a monastery in Armagh and to travel around Ireland, overcoming the influence of the Druids, destroying their rites and converting the Irish..

Patrick’s mission was highly successful and he has been revered by the Irish ever since his death around 461 AD. Folklore declares Patrick was responsible for driving all snakes from Ireland. The snake or serpent was a sign of paganism and the story is probably symbolic as Patrick put an end to the worship of such symbols.

How and where Patrick died is a matter of dispute, but it’s generally accepted the date was March 17, a day of remembrance and celebrations ever since.  The biggest events are, of course, in Ireland itself where St Patrick’s Day is a public and religious holiday.

Over the centuries, the Irish have spread throughout the world and taken their festivals, history and traditions with them.  American cities with large Irish communities, for example New York and Boston, hold massive celebrations, even to the extent of dying rivers green, painting the roads green and drinking green beer!

Wherever you are on March 17, raise a glass to St Patrick and enjoy the craic!

World Theatre Day is on the 27th March What will you be doing to celebrate the occasion?

According to the Bard, ‘All the world is a stage’, and on March 27 people the world over underpin the theory with celebrations marking World Theatre Day.

Up to 100 countries recognise World Theatre Day in many different ways, with events ranging from lavish professional productions, through tiny amateur companies putting on plays, musicals, opera, dance, concerts, street theatre, mime and circus performances. For example, in Bangladesh, the streets of Dacca are colourfully adorned with a procession of more than 1000 actors and actresses in theatre costumes.

In its mission statement, ITI seeks : “to promote international exchange of knowledge and practice in the domain of the performing arts, to stimulate creation and increase cooperation between theatre people, to make public opinion aware of the necessity of taking artistic creation into consideration in the domain of development, to deepen mutual understanding in order to participate in strengthening peace and friendship among peoples, to join in the defence of the ideals and aims of UNESCO.”

Every year World Theatre Day celebrates the power of the theatre in bringing nations, cultures and peoples together in deeper mutual understanding.

World Theatre Day was first celebrated in 1962 following a proposal by President Arvi Kivimaa of the Finnish Centre of the International Theatre Institute. Kivimaa received widespread support and March 27 was instituted as an annual event.

There are 97 ITI’s worldwide, each organising their own celebrations for World Theatre Day. But, whatever part of the world they are in, each begins proceedings with the ‘International Message.’

Every year, a message is prepared by a leading director, actor, actress or playwright. The message to theatrical communities is translated into many languages, printed in hundreds of newspapers and is used to unite theatre, radio and TV audiences the world over.

The inaugural message of 1962 was written by Jean Cocteau alongside the opening of the famous ‘Theatre of Nations’ season in Paris. Since 1962, Cocteau’s message has been followed by contributions from other great names from the world of drama, such as Laurence Olivier, Arthur Miller, Peter Brook, Eugene Ionesco and, last year, the highly-acclaimed French director Ariane Mnouchkine.

Remember, Shakespeare’s words from As You Like It: “All the world’s a stage And all the men and women merely players They have their exits and their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts.”

What role will you be playing when the curtain goes up on March 27?

Go on, add some drama to your life and celebrate World Theatre Day.

Links to fun childrens crafts from Glass Jar Gifts:

Make your own finger puppets

Make your own animal characters

Make your own fairy doll

1st March is St David’s Day celebrated in Wales and by Welsh people all over the world.  St. David is Wales’ Patron Saint, a Celtic monk who lived in the 6th Century. You can read more about St David from this site, which is great for kids, which plenty of activities for today’s celebration.

According to legend, St David died on 1 March and it has been a significant day of Welsh national pride ever since. People often wear a daffodil or leek to mark St David’s day, as both are traditional symbols of Wales.

Here’s a nifty way for children to make a St David.

For more St Davids Day Crafts Gifts click here