St. George’s Day falls on 23 April every year. It marks the feast day of St George, England’s patron saint, on the traditional anniversary of his death in 303 AD. It is not a public bank holiday in England, so schools and businesses operate as normal.

The day is observed with parades, flag-flying, Morris dancing, and community events. In London, the Mayor’s St George’s Day Festival typically takes place around Trafalgar Square. In Stratford-upon-Avon, 23 April carries a double significance: it is also the date traditionally recognised as both the birthday and the death day of William Shakespeare.

This article covers the history of St George, how he became England’s patron saint, what the day looks like in practice, the flag-flying rules, and why England alone among the four UK nations doesn’t have a bank holiday on its national day.

Who Was St George?

St George was a soldier in the Roman army who was executed for his Christian faith on 23 April 303 AD. He was probably born in Cappadocia, a region of what is now central Turkey, to a Christian family. After his father’s death, he moved to Lydda in Palestine and, following family tradition, joined the Roman army. He rose to the rank of officer and eventually served as part of the Praetorian Guard for Emperor Diocletian.

In 303 AD, Diocletian launched a campaign against Christians in the Roman army. George refused to renounce his faith, reportedly destroyed an imperial edict ordering persecutions, and was tortured and then beheaded for his defiance. His bravery in the face of death, and his willingness to sacrifice everything for his beliefs, secured his reputation as a Christian martyr.

What is reliably known about his life stops there. George almost certainly never set foot in England. The dragon never happened. The legendary tale of a knight killing a dragon to save a princess entered his story in medieval iconography, where dragons typically symbolised the Devil. The legend gave the Church a vivid illustration of Christian faith defeating evil, and it spread widely across Europe during the Crusades.

How Did St George Become the Patron Saint of England?

The answer lies in the Crusades and, above all, in King Edward III.

English soldiers encountered the cult of St George during the Crusades of the 11th and 12th centuries, and the red cross on a white background that became associated with him began appearing on English military kit from the late 13th century. By the reign of Edward I in the 1270s, English soldiers were wearing the red cross as part of their uniform.

The decisive moment came in 1348, when Edward III founded the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest surviving order of knighthood in England, and placed it under the patronage of St George. The order was founded on St George’s Day, 23 April 1348, with a ceremonial mass and tournament at Windsor Castle. St George’s Chapel at Windsor was built by Edward IV and Henry VII specifically in honour of the order.

Following England’s victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, Archbishop Chichele elevated St George’s Day to the status of a Double Feast on the English church calendar, putting it on a par with Christmas. Henry V’s troops, who included “Cry God for Harry, England, and Saint George!” among their battle cries (later immortalised by Shakespeare in Henry V), credited the saint’s intervention for their victory against a much larger French force.

The day reached something close to its peak between the 14th and 16th centuries. By the late 18th century, following the political union of England and Scotland and the broadening sense of British rather than purely English identity, the prominence of St George’s Day faded. The Royal Society of St George was founded in 1894 specifically to revive interest in celebrating England’s patron saint.

St George’s Day and Shakespeare: 23 April

The date carries an unexpected second significance for English culture. William Shakespeare was baptised on 26 April 1564, and he died on 23 April 1616. The exact date of his birth is not recorded, but 23 April has long been accepted as the most probable candidate, and it is the date commemorated in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon and in celebrations around the world.

This means 23 April is simultaneously England’s national day, the feast of its patron saint, and the accepted birthday and death day of its greatest writer. Stratford-upon-Avon typically combines both occasions in its celebrations, with Shakespeare’s Globe in London also marking the day with performances.

Is St George’s Day a Bank Holiday?

No. St George’s Day is not a bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. It is a normal working day. Schools open, most businesses trade as usual, and there is no legal entitlement to time off.

This distinguishes England from its Celtic counterparts. St Patrick’s Day (17 March) is an official bank holiday in Northern Ireland, as well as a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. St Andrew’s Day (30 November) became a bank holiday in Scotland following the St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007.

Wales does not have a bank holiday on St David’s Day (1 March) either, which places England and Wales in the same position on this particular point.

Campaigners have repeatedly called for St George’s Day to be made a bank holiday. Both the Labour Party and various cross-party groups have raised the proposal at general elections. Speaking in 2024, Keir Starmer said that a new bank holiday would not be possible given the state of the economy at the time, and no new commitment was made ahead of St George’s Day 2026. The position remains unchanged as of July 2026.

[Table: Patron saint days and bank holiday status across the UK nations]

How St George’s Day Is Celebrated in England

Celebrations vary by location, but a number of traditions recur across the country every 23 April.

Flags and symbols

The St George’s Cross, a red cross on a white background, is flown from homes, pubs, civic buildings, and community spaces. It is also the flag of England and forms the central element of the Union flag. Wearing a red rose in the lapel is a traditional custom, though it has declined in recent decades. The red rose is the national flower of England, and also features in the story of St George rescuing a princess from the dragon.

Events and parades

Local parades often include actors dressed as St George and a dragon re-enacting the legend. The Mayor of London’s annual St George’s Day Festival, typically held near Trafalgar Square, is one of the largest events. Morris dancing, a traditional English folk dance using bells, sticks, and handkerchiefs, takes place in town centres across England. Pubs and community centres hold gatherings featuring classic English food: roast dinners, fish and chips, bangers and mash.

Church services

As a formal feast day in the Church of England calendar, services are held on 23 April across the country. The hymn Jerusalem, with words by the poet William Blake set to music by Hubert Parry, is commonly sung. Some services include readings from Henry V and prayers connected to St George.

Stratford-upon-Avon

The town closest to Shakespeare’s birthplace observes 23 April as both St George’s Day and the Bard’s Day. Celebrations typically include parades, theatrical performances, and public readings, with visitors coming specifically for the occasion.

How to Fly the St George’s Cross: The Rules

Flying the St George’s Cross on your home is entirely legal and generally does not require planning permission. The relevant legislation is the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, which treats national flags as a distinct permitted category.

The practical rules are:

• On a vertical flagpole mounted on the roof of a building: no size limit and no planning permission required (except in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where restrictions may apply).
• On a projecting flagpole on the wall or side of a building: the flag must not exceed 2 square metres, and planning permission may be needed in certain designated areas such as conservation areas or AONBs.
• Flags must not create a safety hazard, must not obscure road signs, and must not be placed on highway land (lamp posts, street furniture, roundabouts) without permission from the relevant highway authority.

Councils can issue enforcement notices for non-compliant displays, and persistent breaches can lead to fines up to £2,500. In practice, most St George’s Cross displays from private homes cause no issue.

If you are unsure about your specific property, check your local council’s planning FAQ or GOV.UK’s plain English guide to flying flags at gov.uk/government/publications/flying-flags-a-plain-english-guide.

St George: Not Just England’s Patron Saint

One of the more surprising facts about St George is how widely he is claimed across the world. England shares him with a significant number of other countries and regions, including:

• Portugal (one of the oldest patron saint relationships with George)
• Ethiopia
• Georgia (the country takes its name from the saint)
• Catalonia in Spain (where 23 April is a national holiday; lovers exchange red roses and books)
• Venice and Genoa in Italy
• Germany and Greece
• Bulgaria, Serbia, and Lithuania

In Barcelona, St George’s Day (known as Sant Jordi) is observed with markets of roses and books in the streets, and it’s one of the most celebrated days in the Catalan calendar. The book-giving tradition is one reason 23 April was chosen by UNESCO as World Book Day (not to be confused with the UK’s own World Book Day, which falls on a Thursday in March).

What Happens to St George’s Day When Easter Is Near?

The Church of England has rules about the commemoration of saints’ days when they fall too close to Easter. No saint’s day can be observed between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter (Low Sunday). When 23 April falls within that window, the celebration is moved to the first available date outside it.

This has happened several times in recent decades: in 2011, 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2025, the church celebration of St George’s Day was moved to a date after the Octave of Easter. The civil observance of 23 April (flag-flying, community events) still tends to happen on the date itself, while formal church services take place on the moved date.

St George’s Day FAQs

Q: When is St George’s Day? 

St George’s Day is on 23 April every year. The date is fixed and does not move, though Church of England services may be transferred to a date after Easter if 23 April falls during Holy Week or Easter Week.

Q: Is St George’s Day a bank holiday in England? 

No. St George’s Day is not a bank holiday anywhere in the UK. It is a normal working day in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. There is no legal entitlement to time off. Scotland has a bank holiday for St Andrew’s Day; Northern Ireland has one for St Patrick’s Day. England does not have an equivalent.

Q: Why is St George the patron saint of England? 

Edward III placed St George as the patron of the Order of the Garter in 1348, and the saint’s association with English military victories during the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War built his reputation. Archbishop Chichele elevated St George’s Day to a Double Feast following Agincourt in 1415, cementing his status.

Q: Was St George English?

No. St George was a Roman soldier of Greek origin, probably born in Cappadocia in what is now central Turkey. He is thought to have spent time in Lydda in Palestine. He almost certainly never visited England.

Q: Did St George really slay a dragon? 

No. The dragon-slaying story is a medieval legend, not a historical account. In medieval iconography, the dragon typically represented the Devil or the enemies of the Christian faith. The legend became associated with St George in the 10th and 11th centuries and spread widely across Europe during the Crusades.

Q: What traditions are associated with St George’s Day? 

Common traditions include flying the St George’s Cross flag, wearing a red rose on the lapel, attending local parades featuring a St George and dragon re-enactment, Morris dancing, and eating traditional English food such as roast dinners or fish and chips. Church services often feature the hymn Jerusalem.

Q: Can I fly the St George’s Cross flag at home without planning permission? 

Yes, in most cases. A national flag on a vertical pole mounted on your roof does not need planning permission. If you attach it to a projecting pole on the wall, the flag must not exceed 2 square metres, and planning consent may be needed in conservation areas or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Q: Is 23 April Shakespeare’s birthday? 

Shakespeare’s exact birth date is not recorded, but 23 April is the traditional date assigned to it, based on his baptism being recorded on 26 April 1564. He died on 23 April 1616. This is why St George’s Day and Shakespeare celebrations coincide in Stratford-upon-Avon each year.