Happy
St George’s Day
Celebrating St Georges Day (England’s National Day) in 2026
Every April, England celebrates its national day, St. George’s Day! This day honours the patron saint of England with the flag of St. George (a red cross on a white background) flown across the country.
Local festivities, concerts, gatherings and more. A great reason to have a big meal with friends and family while celebrating English culture.
When is St. George’s Day?
St. George’s Day takes place each year on April 23rd, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George’s death in 303 AD.
It’s always celebrated on April 23rd, regardless of what day of the week it falls on.
APRIL 23 2026
It’s Not a National Holiday!
St George’s Day is not a Bank Holiday in England, though there are growing calls for it to become one.
St Andrew’s Day in Scotland and St Patrick’s Day in Ireland are both Bank Holidays in those countries, although St David’s Day is not a public holiday in Wales.
Who was St. George?
St. George was a soldier in the Roman army under Emperor Diocletian. He became venerated as a Christian martyr when he refused to renounce his faith and was executed for it.
By the sixth century, churches and monastic communities dedicated to St George had emerged in Jerusalem, Constantinople, Armenia, Jericho, Edessa, and Dorylaeum. In Egypt, a Coptic church dedicated to him was founded in Cairo as early as 684, one of about forty such institutions by the 13th century.
The Christian world extended across the Mediterranean, the Middle East and North Africa including Egypt and Ethiopia, and into Europe.
St George’s pan-Christian recognition stems from his early martyr cult and legendary warrior symbolism that was known across the Christian world.
This is why he is recognised as the patron saint of over 25 countries cities and regions to this day.
Although St George never visited England, his reputation for virtue and Chivalric ideal spread across Europe and his feast day – the 23rd April – was celebrated in England from the 9th century onwards.
The story of him slaying a dragon emerged later. He became the patron saint of England in 1415 AD.
The first stories of George’s dragon-slaying appear in Georgian texts of the 11th century and became popular in Latin Europe through the 12th-century book The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine.
The Golden Legend is an important text related to St. George’s Day.
William Caxton, England’s first printer, translated and printed it in 1483, making it one of the earliest and most influential printed books in English.
It was one of the most widely read books in the late Middle Ages.
The Golden Legend’s account of St. George, including the famous dragon-slaying story, significantly contributed to his popularity in England and elsewhere.
While the book was compiled in the 13th century, its influence extended well into the 1400s and beyond.
Traditions and Customs
St. George’s Day was celebrated with a feast and national holiday in England on a par with Christmas from the early 15th century.
In 1552, during the Reformation, Parliament banned the celebration of minor saints’ days, including St. George’s Day.
Mummers’ plays are often performed during specific seasonal festivities, including St. George’s Day.
Celebrations still continue, but the feast is not celebrated today.
Traditionally people wear a red rose.
Wave the St. George’s flag this year and celebrate the history of England.
The Royal Society of St. George
The Royal Society of St. George was founded in 1894 to promote English culture and traditions. The society made efforts to revive and promote St. George’s Day (April 23rd) celebrations, which had declined in prominence after the Reformation. Queen Victoria became the society’s first royal patron, and it has enjoyed royal patronage ever since.
In 1902, King Edward VII granted the society the use of the prefix “Royal,” and in 1963, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed a Royal Charter upon the organisation. The society continues to organise events and activities to foster English pride and commemorate St. George’s Day.
St. George’s Church in Fordington
The dedication of a church to St. George in the village of Fordington is significant because it shows the early importance of St. George in England. The earliest known dedication to St George in a church in England is at Fordington in Dorset (now part of Dorchester) that is mentioned in the will of King Alfred the Great.
St George’s Day and a Royal Birthday
St. George’s Day is an important part of the country’s cultural and historical identity. It is a day for celebrating the traditions, values, and achievements of the English people, and it is an opportunity for people of all ages to come together and celebrate their national heritage.
April 23rd also bears significance for both the royal family and the country. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child, Prince Luis was born on April 23rd 2018.
St George’s Feast
You can celebrate St. George’s Day at home too! Decorate with English flags or bunting and roses. Cook a hearty English roast dinner or a full feast.
Watch TV specials about England’s history and parades. Create some colorful St. George’s Day crafts or costumes with kids.
However you mark April 23rd, find a way to celebrate English culture and heritage.
- Get The Bunting Out
- Invite your friends round
- Cook a Feast
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