Saint George's Day

Here’s what you might not know about St. George’s Day:

Take a close look at the English flag. That red cross over a white background has meaning. It’s actually St. George’s Cross — a symbol so closely intertwined with English national identity that St. George has his own national holiday.

The legend of Saint George and the Dragon describes the saint taming and slaying a dragon that demanded human sacrifices. We celebrate St. George’s Day on April 23 — the anniversary of his death in 303 AD.

The patron saint of England has captivated British imaginations since the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War. Perhaps the most British of all holidays, this special day is a chance to let your English flag fly, literally and figuratively.

Fun Facts:

1) St George’s Day falls on 23rd April every year. This is the date when Saint George died. It is believed he died on 23rd April, 303 AD.

2) He was born in a place called Cappadocia. In the modern day, that would be in Turkey!

3) St George isn’t just the Patron Saint of England! He is the Patron Saint of farmers, soldiers, archers and even… scouts! The scouts and guides often take part in a parade on St George’s Day because of this.

4) Legend has it that George slayed a dragon. The story says that he rode into a place called Silene and saved the city from the scary dragon. He also saved a Princess! Sadly this story was actually made up.

5) On St George’s Day, a lot of people celebrate with a nice, traditional English meal. Some of the most traditional meals are fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, roast dinner or afternoon tea!