Why do Barcelona have St George’s cross on their club badge?

Barcelona have just updated the official club crest for the first time in 16 years. 

Their previous logo has seen some pretty successful times across the last decade and a half, with La Liga wins, Champions League triumphs and cups galore in the greatest period of the clubs history.

Still littered with its famous red and blue stripes, alongside the colours of Catalonia, the new badge is still as elegant and internationally recognisable as ever.

However, one factor that has stuck is the inclusion of the St George’s Cross which has perhaps escaped the notice of many a wandering eye.

The reason for the St George Cross is simple; St George is the not only the patron saint of England but of Catalonia too.

The translated name from a Catalonian perspective is ‘Sant Jordi’ whose legend is just as celebrated in warmer parts of Europe than our own.

The updated crest:
✅ The shape is kept intact.
✅ The FCB acronym disappears.
✅ The internal black lines disappear.
✅ More homogeneous, more harmonious, and brighter.
✅ To be applied beginning with the 2019/20 season. pic.twitter.com/xIurAqtF8l

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 27, 2018

The story of Sant Jordi

According to barcelonayellow.com, the story of ‘Sant Jordi’ is as follows: “Once upon a time, a terrible dragon terrorised the inhabitants of a small village in Catalonia called Montblanc. The dragon wrecked havoc among the population and devoured the animals put out to pasture until there were none left.

“To calm the dragon’s anger, the inhabitants of the village decided to sacrifice one person every day, chosen by drawing lots, and to offer that person to the dragon as a sign of their good will.

“However, one, dark day, the person chosen to be sacrificed was the king’s daughter. Just when she was about to be swallowed up by the dragon, a courageous knight appeared and confronted the evil beast. This was Saint George (Sant Jordi in Catalan).

“He thrust his lance into the dragon and, out of the blood that spurted forth, there grew a red rose bush. Since then, it has been the custom in Catalonia to present a rose to your loved one.

“Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia, as well as England and other countries, became the symbol of Catalonia during the Renaixença, a nineteenth century political and cultural movement that sought to reclaim the symbols of Catalan identity.”

Barcelona aren’t the only fans of St George

As much as the English continue to relish in the tales and traditions of their patron saint, they are clearly not the only ones who incorporate the name within their heritage.

Along with Barcelona, there are two Italian sides who have inducted the famous red cross on white background into their respective identity.

AC Milan also includes the St George’s Cross on their badge. The reason is that they were formed by an Englishman. The official first president of the club was a British expatriate, Alfred Edwards, who was in charge of the club’s first national championship victory.

Fellow Seria A outfit Genoa also have affiliations with the famous cross.

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