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UK: Why St George’s day is not April 23 this year

Many in England might be ready to raise the red and white flag today in honour of St George. But this year, you’d be a little early.

St George’s Day is usually marked on April 23. However, the Church of England has moved the celebration in 2025 due to its clash with the Easter calendar.

According to church rules, no saint’s day can be observed during Holy Week or Easter Week.

A note from the Church of England explains:
“When St George’s Day or St Mark’s Day falls between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter inclusive, it is transferred to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter. If both fall in this period, St George’s Day is transferred to the Monday and St Mark’s Day to the Tuesday.”

This means that instead of the usual date, St George’s Day will now be celebrated on a later Monday this year.

St George’s Day is both a national day and a religious festival for the Anglican and Catholic churches. St George is the patron saint of England.

Despite the date change, the spirit of celebration remains. On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted a St George’s Day reception at Downing Street.

He used the occasion to speak about national pride and the meaning of the flag.

“Because, while this is a day for celebration, we cannot be under any illusions that there is a never-ending fight for our flag and what it represents,” he said.

Keir reflected on the unity felt during Euro ’96:
“I’ll put it this way, when I was standing in the old Wembley in 1996 – not many people sat down that day, it felt like that whole tournament embodied the best of our country.

Yet now – there are people trying to sow division in our communities, people taking the red and white of our flag, like the bunting downstairs, with them, as they throw bricks at businesses.”

He also highlighted England’s diversity.
“That for me is something I think we should always be proud of and never take for granted,” he said.

He noted the contrast between his own “working class” background and that of his predecessor Rishi Sunak, “an English Hindu,” both of whom served as Prime Minister.

Among those attending the No 10 reception were Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker and comedian Rob Beckett.

(INDEPENDENT)