What do the island of Brač and the countries of Georgia and England have in common? There may be many things, but a love of lamb and a patron saint are the first things that spring to mind! St George is, of course, an important saint in many countries and localities, and on Brač you will see the dragon-slaying hero’s likeness everywhere you look. There are many legends connected with St George and theories as to why this Saint’s day (23 April) is celebrated so widely, but perhaps the most interesting we’ve heard is from the Brač Native Museum – with the caveat that this is legend, not fact. In the mythology of many Slav countries, ancient Man conceived of the elements as a pitched battle between the gods of the air (bringing sun, warmth and fertility) and the gods of the land (bringing cold winters, hunger and despair). In the imagination, these cruel earth gods metamorphosed into living symbols such as snakes and dragons. Hence, St George, the slayer of the dragon, symbolises the victory of the gods of the air and heralds the coming of the spring.