St George's Day

St George's Day (April 23) is celebrated in several nations of whom Saint George is the patron saint, including England, Georgia, Portugal, and Catalonia. In England it is the National Day. April 23 was the date of Saint George's death in 303.

Related Topics:
April 23 - Saint George - Patron saint - England - Georgia - Portugal - Catalonia - National Day - 303

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In 1969, Saint George's feast day was reduced to an optional memorial in the Roman Catholic calendar, and the solemnity of his commemoration depends on purely local observance. He is however still honoured as a saint of major importance by Eastern Orthodoxy. His feast date remains the second most important National Feast in Catalonia. There, it is known in Catalan as Dia Sant Jordi and it is traditional to give a rose and a book to a loved one. This tradition inspired UNESCO to declare this the International Day of the Book, since the 23 April of 1616 was also the date of the death of the authors William Shakespeare (according to the Julian calendar) and Miguel de Cervantes (according to the Gregorian calendar).

Related Topics:
1969 - Roman Catholic - Eastern Orthodoxy - Catalonia - Catalan - UNESCO - 23 April - 1616 - William Shakespeare - Julian calendar - Miguel de Cervantes - Gregorian calendar

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St George is also the patron saint of the scouting movement. Many Scout Troops in the United Kingdom take part in a St George's Day Parade on the nearest Sunday to April 23. A message from the Chief Scout is read out and the Scout Hymn is sung. A "renewal of promise" then takes place where the Scouts renew the Scout's Promise made at joining and at all Scout meetings.

Related Topics:
Scouting - Chief Scout - Hymn

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