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Though the Bollandists sought to dispel many of the legends and rumors that surrounded the various saints of Europe, the legend of Saint George had become part of the cultural and religious lore of Belgium in general, just as it had across many parts of Europe. UNESCO recognizes celebrations dating back to the 14th century in the Belgian city of Mons in Saint George’s name as an event of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Humanity. <ref name = UNESCO> UNESCO – [http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/RL/00153 Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France]</ref> With these celebrations also came the traditional feasts and drinking. As we have discussed the [[A_Brief_History_of_Lambic_in_Belgium|cultural history of lambic]] elsewhere, it is safe to say that as the legend of Saint George became part of the traditional story telling culture of Belgium at the time, so too did the notion of the Saint slaying the dragon and returning to drink to his success and to the prosperity of the town and its people. In Belgian terms, this means that over time the traditional drink would have been lambic. The theme of the hero returning to celebrate the slaying of a monster is not uncommon in early literature and persisted in many of the folkloric tales of early modern Europe.
[[File:BrasserieDuDragon.jpg|right|thumb|Brasseire Brasserie du Dragon, with the same address as Cantillon today]]
Saint George is the patron saint of many places and of many things, and he is often found in reference to beer and brewing. Many breweries are either named for him or have beers alluding to him and his feats. According to Frank Boon of [[Brouwerij_Boon|Brouwerij Boon]], Saint George is even the patron saint of lambic brewers<ref name=LambicDigest> Lambic Digest, May 12, 1994 – [https://www.lambic.info/lambic_digest/1994/342.txt Mariage Parfait and the Procession of St. Veronus] </ref>, though other sources note that it is actually Saint Veronus who is the patron saint of lambic brewers and also the town of [[The_Language_of_Lambic#The_Town_of_Lembeek|Lembeek]]. This statement does have some factual backing. The Saint Veronus Church in the town does have dragon motifs, and these are atypical for the period and region in general. Many have also seen references to [[Brasserie_Cantillon|Cantillon’s]] [[Cantillon_Bière_du_Dragon| Bière du Dragon]]. Though little is known about the actual beer, logos on coasters and breweriana show a pronounced dragon. At one point, there was also a “[[Brasserie_Du_Dragon|Brasserie du Dragon]]” whose address was the same as Cantillon’s today (56 rue Gheude B-1070 Brussels) and who listed Gueuze-Lambic and Krieken as their products. Research is still ongoing as to the origins of that name and brewery.
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