| Where: | Norwich, Norfolk- procession from St George's Colegate to St George's Tombland on St George's Day and city centre from the Cathedral in Lord Mayor's Procession |
| When: | 23rd April (St George's Day)and a Saturday in early to mid July (Lord Mayor's Weekend) |
| Time: | St George's Day 6pm onwards (or sometimes 7pm), Lord Mayor's Procession 3pm onwards |
In medieval times, an integral part of the elaborate pageants held in the city of Norwich was Snap, an appropriately named dragon with hinged jaws associated with the Guild of St George. Snap appeared in civic processions and on St George’s Day from the fourteenth century onwards, and today a modern equivalent performs the same function to the delight of the crowd. He can be found with his attendant Whifflers, Dick Fool and Standard Bearers at a number of events around the year; he always appears on St George’s Day, when Snap battles with and is defeated by a Bishop, and he can be found at the head of the enormous Lord Mayor’s Procession in July. Snap is often foiled making attempts to enter the Cathedral (he is associated with the Devil and thus barred from holy places) and may sneakily remove hats from heads, causing fun and mayhem wherever he goes.
Helpful Hints
Two events you can count on finding Snap attending are St George’s Day (23rd April) and at the Lord Mayor’s Weekend in the procession on a Saturday in July, as well as events like the Royal Norfolk Show.
In 2026 Snap was active on 23rd April for St George’s Day and on Saturday 11th July in the Lord Mayor’s Procession. 2027 details are yet to be confirmed and will be updated in good time on the Pageantry Group Facebook link below. The procession route and other useful information on the Lord Mayor’s Weekend can be found on the Council Facebook page.
Historic incarnations of Snap may be found at the Castle and at Museum of Norwich.
Click here for the Pageantry Group: https://www.facebook.com/NorwichWhifflers
click here for the Council: https://www.facebook.com/NorwichCityCouncil
and here: https://www.norwich.gov.uk
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