St. George’s Day

St. George’s Day — Patron Saint of England — is  celebrated on April 23 to honor England’s patron saint, St. George, a Roman soldier martyred in 303 AD for his Christian faith. His legend, particularly the slaying of a dragon, became emblematic of good triumphing over evil, resonating deeply in medieval England. By the 14th century, St. George was officially recognized as England’s patron, with his feast day marked by religious observances and chivalric celebrations.

In UK educational settings, the day’s history reflects evolving cultural and pedagogical priorities. During the medieval period, schools tied to monasteries or cathedrals included St. George’s Day in religious curricula, emphasizing moral lessons through hagiographies. The Reformation diminished saintly feasts, but St. George’s Day persisted in schools as a symbol of English identity, especially in the 19th century amid imperial pride. Victorian-era schools celebrated with pageants, plays, and readings of patriotic tales.

 In USA educational settings multiculturalism and secularism reduced its prominence in schools, with observances often limited to assemblies or history lessons; most commonly observed in the American South and Midwest.