St George’s Day

When did the St George’s Day start?

The first recorded date of St George’s Day being celebrated on April 23 was in the year 1263.

About St George’s Day Holiday

April 23rd marks an important holiday in Spain- St George’s Day! This celebrated holiday dates back to 1510, when King Ferdinand III chose St George as the Patron Saint of Seville. As the Patron Saint of Seville, St George became the symbol of the city’s protection and its struggles against Moorish rulers. Since its beginnings, St George’s Day has been a cause for celebration in Spain.

Every April 23rd, people celebrate St George’s Day with parades, street parties, and fireworks. Several regions in Spain even mark the holiday with a week-long religious celebration, including the solemn blessing of animals. In some areas, people also celebrate with traditional activities such as hunting with trained eagles in the Basque Country. No matter the region, the holiday is celebrated with great spirit and enthusiasm.

On St George’s Day, people of all ages join in the festivities to pay homage to the Patron Saint of Seville. Parade-goers often don traditional medieval-style clothing, and some cities even create floats to commemorate St. George. After the initial celebrations, the holiday culminates in a grand carnival procession that passes through some of the major cities in Spain. St George’s Day is sure to be a day that will be remembered for years to come!

History and Origin of St. George’s Day

St. George’s Day is celebrated in Spain and other parts of the world on April 23rd as a celebration of the patron saint of the country. The holiday dates back to the 8th century during the time of the Christian re-conquest in Spain. It was believed to be the day of St. George’s martyrdom and was marked on the calendars of the time as the ‘Feast of St. George’. During the Middle Ages, when Spain was mostly Catholic, it was a major festival.

The origin of St. George’s Day is thought to be derived from the tale of St. George and the dragon. St. George was a Roman soldier of Greek origin who was known for his courage and dedication. He is said to have slain a dragon at a lake near Silene in Libya to rescue a beautiful princess. This is the main story behind the feast of St. George.

St. George’s Day, celebrated on April 23rd, is in honor of St. George, the patron saint of England and several other countries and cities. Here are some countries and regions where St. George’s Day is celebrated or observed:

  • England: St. George is the patron saint of England. While St. George’s Day is not a public holiday, it is celebrated with various local traditions, parades, and events.
  • Catalonia, Spain: Known as “La Diada de Sant Jordi,” it’s a significant day in Catalonia. Traditionally, books and roses are exchanged between loved ones.
  • Bulgaria: St. George’s Day (Gergyovden) is celebrated as a public holiday, and it’s also recognized as the Day of the Bulgarian Army. It’s customary for lamb to be eaten on this day.
  • Georgia: St. George is one of the patron saints of Georgia. The country celebrates St. George’s Day twice a year, on November 23rd and April 23rd.
  • Portugal: In the region of Porto, St. George’s Day is celebrated with a public holiday.
  • Greece: St. George is a popular saint in Greece, and his day is celebrated in various parts of the country.
  • Russia: St. George is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church, and his day is observed, especially in Moscow, where he is the city’s patron saint.
  • Serbia: St. George’s Day, known as “Đurđevdan” in Serbian, is celebrated predominantly by the Serbian Orthodox Christian community.
  • Romania: St. George’s Day, or “Ziua Sfântului Gheorghe,” marks the beginning of pastoral summer, a time when livestock are led out to graze. It’s celebrated with various local customs and traditions.
  • Lebanon: In the town of Bteghrine, St. George’s Day is celebrated.
  • Brazil: In the state of Rio de Janeiro, St. George’s Day, or “Dia de São Jorge,” is a public holiday.
  • Ethiopia: St. George is the patron saint of the country, and his day is observed with religious ceremonies.
  • Malta: Various localities that have St. George as their patron saint celebrate this day.
  • Palestinian territories: In certain areas, especially among Christian Palestinian communities, St. George’s Day is celebrated.

It’s worth noting that the veneration of St. George is widespread, and his feast might be observed in various ways across different Christian denominations worldwide. Some countries may have religious observances without broader public celebrations.

Significance and Meaning of St. George’s Day

The main significance of St. George’s Day is to remember St. George as a Christian martyr and his bravery in protecting the people of Spain during the early years of the Christian re-conquest. The day is celebrated in honor of his bravery and to thank him for his work.

The day has also come to symbolize unity and shared culture in Spain. It is perhaps the most celebrated Spanish holiday and is seen as a time to come together and share in the richness of Spanish culture and heritage.

Traditions and Celebrations for St. George’s Day

The traditional observance of St. George’s Day is celebrated on April 23rd each year. Traditions include parades and processions, with the highlight being the “lion dance”. This dance is done in honor of St. George conquering the dragon and is performed by people dressed up as lions.

An important part of the celebration is the “Almedrana”, which is a dance with colorful flags and an audience of many people, singing and dancing. Traditional decorations include banners and flags of St. George’s Cross, which are carried by a castellano (flag waver).

On April 23rd, a special mass is celebrated at the Cathedral of Seville which is dedicated to St. George and includes readings from the Bible along with hymns dedicated to St. George.

Geographical Spread of St. George’s Day

St. George’s Day is widely observed in Spain, although it has also spread to other countries in Europe. It is celebrated on April 23rd in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Cyprus, Romania, and parts of Latin America.

In the United States, April 23rd is observed as “St. George’s Day Celebration” in some cities such as Detroit, Michigan, Westfield, New Jersey, and Glendale, California.

Modern Day Observations of St. George’s Day

Today, St. George’s Day is a major cultural holiday celebrated in Spain. It is seen as a way to commemorate the patron saint of Spain and to celebrate the country’s culture and heritage.

The day is also seen as a day of reflection for many Spaniards, as it marks the Catholic re-conquest of the country.

In recent years, St. George’s Day has become increasingly popular in Spain, as well as other countries in Europe, as a way to celebrate the culture and heritage of Spain.

Interesting Facts and Trivia of St. George’s Day

St. George’s Day is celebrated annually on April 23rd in countries that celebrate the holiday, including Spain, the UK, Portugal, Cyprus, Romania, and parts of Latin America.

The day is also known as the festival of “The Day of the Castilian” in Spain, as it is seen as a day to celebrate Castilian culture and heritage.

It is believed by some that St. George is the patron saint of England, but in reality, he was officially named the patron saint of England in 1222 when the annual feast of St. George was re-established.

In the United States, some cities such as Detroit, Michigan, have started to observe “St. George’s Day Celebration” on April 23rd as a way to celebrate the patron saint of England.

Conclusion

St. George’s Day is an important holiday in Spain, as well as other countries around the world. It is a day to remember and celebrate the patron saint of the country, as well as the culture and heritage that has developed over the centuries. It is celebrated with parades and traditional dances, as well as mass dedicated to St. George and the Christian re-conquest. While the day is celebrated on April 23rd each year, the story of St. George and the dragon is still re-told and the significance of the date is remembered.

How to Say "St George’s Day" In Different Languages?

Bulgarian
Св. Георгиден (bg-BG)
Danish
Englen Sankt Georgs Dag (da-DK)
Dutch
Sanctaalbrectdag (nl-BE)
Dutch
Sanctaalbrectdag (nl-NL)
Finnish
Pyhän Yrjöksen Päivä (fi-FI)
French
La Saint Georges Spagnole (fr-FR)
German
Saint Georges Tag Spaniens (de-DE)
Greek
Άγιος Γεώργιος Σπανιώτης (el-GR)
Hebrew
קנדה (he-IL)
Hungarian
Szent György Napja (hu-HU)
Italian
San Giorgio Spagnolo (it-IT)
Polish
Świętego Jerzego Dzień Hiszpanii (pl-PL)
Portuguese
Dia de São Jorge Espanhol (pt-PT)
Romanian
Paste (ro-RO)
Swedish
St Georges Dag Spanien (sv-SE)
St George’s Day Also Called
The Fiesta de San Jorge, or Fiesta of Saint George, is the traditional Spanish holiday honoring Saint George and celebrated on April 23.
Countries where "St George’s Day" is celebrated:

FUN FACT:
In year 1263, St George’s Day is celebrated on April 23 for the first time.

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