Gransnet forums

Chat

St George’s Day today.

(42 Posts)
Sago Wed 23-Apr-25 07:51:56

Why is St George not celebrated like Patrick, David and Andrew?

It’s such a shame we don’t do more!

Mollygo Wed 23-Apr-25 17:31:18

We do in school, not necessarily all schools though.
We celebrated it today, not having read the CoE directive as we aren’t a church school.

Would the other countries accept the rearrangement of celebration day dates?
E.g. Cinco de Mayo will be on May 3rd this year, or St David’s day will be on March 7th?

Iam64 Wed 23-Apr-25 17:39:33

I’m another who wants it reclaimed.
The Scots and Welsh celebrate their identity. I
Identify as English, despite what my DNA tells me

Whingey Wed 23-Apr-25 19:01:51

St George he was for England
And before he killed the dragon
He drank a pint of English beer
Out of an English flagon 😬

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Wed 23-Apr-25 19:25:00

I really can’t see anyone celebrating this patron day on Monday, no matter what the CoE says, can you? Our local Anglican Church has the Crossof Saint George flying now as I look across! Did they not get the memo?

Calendargirl Wed 23-Apr-25 19:29:45

I think St George’s Day is traditionally the start of the English asparagus season, lasting until Midsummer Day.

I love asparagus.

NotSpaghetti Wed 23-Apr-25 21:30:25

Mollygo I expect all Christian countries move the Spring Saint Days according to Easter.

Here are the ones I've found out about:

They are only moved if they clash with Holy Week or Eastertide observances.

April:
* April 23: St. George - if it falls within the specific period around Easter.
* April 25: St. Mark the Evangelist - Similar to St. George's Day, if April 25th falls between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter inclusive, the Feast of St. Mark is moved to the Tuesday after the Second Sunday of Easter.
* April 29: St. Catherine of Siena
* April 30: St. Pius V
* May 1: St. Joseph the Worker
* May 3: Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
* May 14: St. Matthias, Apostle - the alternative date for St. Matthias is February 24th.
* May 20: St. Bernardine of Siena.

On top of this the exact dates these saints are celebrated can vary slightly between different Christian denominations and their liturgical calendars.

"Moveable feasts" are directly tied to the date of Easter and so shift each year.

NotSpaghetti Wed 23-Apr-25 21:34:32

Also, as the earliest possible date for Easter Sunday in the Gregorian calendar is March 22nd, St David's day (March 1st) is "safe" from ever being moved about.

Mollygo Wed 23-Apr-25 22:09:36

Would the Welsh ever agree that St David’s day is a moveable feast?
It doesn’t mattered if people celebrated St George’s Day today, if it’s important to them to celebrate it.
Most celebrate it now because he’s our National Saint, regardless of whether they go to church or not.

Casdon Wed 23-Apr-25 22:42:18

I know that St David’s Day is on a fixed day every year, because March 1st was (allegedly, by tradition) the day St David died, rather than a moveable date in the Christian calendar. I must admit I didn’t realise that St George’s day was moveable either until today.

NotSpaghetti Wed 23-Apr-25 23:18:37

St George’s day is (like other spring Saints Days) only moveable if Easter is within a week.

As I tried to explain earlier (obviously not very well, sorry) the Welsh would never have to agree that St David’s day is a moveable feast because it will never be within the Easter period.

NotSpaghetti Wed 23-Apr-25 23:26:32

In 1940 St. Patrick's Day was moved to April 2nd. This was because March 17th coincided with Palm Sunday that year.
And in 2008 St. Patrick's Day was moved to March 15th by the Vatican. That was the date Catholics were supposed to celebrate.

I expect non-catholics (and the government (?) celebrated on the 17th but don't know for sure.

BlueBelle Wed 23-Apr-25 23:33:13

But George was Turkish and there’s no such thing as a dragon
🤣🤣🤣🤣

Mollygo Wed 23-Apr-25 23:37:14

I hear what you’re saying, but the question remains, is Would they? It doesn’t matter where it falls if it’s celebrated as a national day, which they mostly are nowadays.

Granmarderby10 Thu 24-Apr-25 08:07:57

I went to town yesterday after my dental checkup and the closer to the centre I got the louder it got. This was about 11 am. First pub blaring out the national anthem later on another Vera Lynne and as I waited for my bus to pull out (it was early!) we were treated to * Jerusalem* I half expected Al Murrays Pub Landlord to appear holding his “pint” aloft ..
…Bu’iffull Bri’ish toon 🤣

The effect was somewhat spoiled though by some early evening Karaoke artist (they start early these days) murdering Sinatras’ “My Way” in another nearby pub.
What a cacophony!

Allira Thu 24-Apr-25 10:07:08

BlueBelle

But George was Turkish and there’s no such thing as a dragon
🤣🤣🤣🤣

there’s no such thing as a dragon
🤣🤣🤣🤣

😯 Try telling that to the Welsh! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

BlueBelle Sat 26-Apr-25 08:12:59

Ok Allira
Anniebach there’s no such thing as a dragon is there ? 🤣🤣