St George's Day · Ruz-e Sant Jorj

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · Eastern Orthodox (new calendar) · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

St George's Day remembers George, a soldier martyred in about 303 and, in legend, the slayer of a dragon. He is the patron saint of England, where the day is the national day though not a public holiday, and of Georgia and Catalonia. In Catalonia it is the Diada de Sant Jordi, when people give each other books and roses. The Church of England moves the feast out of Holy Week and Easter week, but the civil date is the one shown. The Greek Orthodox Church keeps it on 23 April, unless that date falls in Lent or Holy Week, when it is kept on the Monday after Easter.