St George's Day moved to new date in huge blow to tradition
According to church rules, any saint's day falling in Holy or Easter week moves to the week after the Easter fortnight - usually to the first Monday, meaning St George's Day has been 'transferred' this year
Brits waking up this morning ready to fly their St George 's flag might be surprised to find out they've got the date wrong. Typically, St George's Day is celebrated on April 23 each year.
The legend of St George, who famously slayed a dragon, has made him a revered figure and patron saint in England. Known as the Feast of St George, the day is celebrated by countries and Christian churches globally. King Edward III declared St George the Patron Saint of England when he established the Order of the Garter in his name back in 1350. Despite not being English, St George was seen as a figure who represented the qualities that the kingdom wanted to portray to the world.
But this year is a bit different. If you're celebrating today, you're actually five days early. The Church of England has postponed this year's celebration to Monday, April 28. This is because church rules state that any saint's day that falls during Holy or Easter week is moved to the week following the Easter fortnight, typically the first Monday.
So, St George's Day has been 'transferred' from today, Wednesday, April 23, to next Monday, April 28. Downing Street held a reception yesterday evening to commemorate the day of England's patron saint, reports the Express. The Church of England provided guidance regarding the celebration dates for patron saints, saying: "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."
Downing Street revealed that the PM will be throwing a special bash to mark St George's Day. "The prime minister will host a St George's Day reception in Downing Street to celebrate the very best of our nation's music, culture and sport." It said. "He is the first prime minister to personally host a St George's Day reception."
Further details about the reception emerged as they said: "He will discuss the importance of modern patriotism to make working people's lives better and meet with public sector workers across the NHS and police as part of the Plan for Change."
The occasion marks six years since the last shift of St George's Day back in 2019. St George's Day festivities usually include events packed with traditionally British activities, from lively pub celebrations and hearty Sunday roasts to a multitude of parades, folks donned in Saint George's Crosses, church ceremonies, and even a dash of Morris dancing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'
Gardening expert Monty Don has shared a top tip for gardeners who want to keep their roses flowering for longer, and it's a job that needs to be done daily Roses are treasured by many green-fingered enthusiasts for the stunning spectacle they present when in full bloom. Gardening expert Monty Don has highlighted a key task that should be performed daily to help these cherished plants "carry more flowers". In his blog, where he offers monthly gardening tips, Monty declared that people simply cannot herald the month of June without mentioning roses. He shared with his followers that he's increasingly opting for English roses that offer repeat flowering, therefore prolonging their beauty beyond the peak of June. Monty then divulged his "secret" to cultivating roses that boast a longer blooming period, reports the Express. His advice was clear: "The secret of keeping any rose flowering as long as possible is to deadhead daily." Deadheading involves removing wilted blooms to promote further flowering and enhance both the look and structure of the rose. For roses, arguably the most emblematic and enchanting of garden flora, consistent deadheading is crucial to maintain their opulent display throughout the season. This practice not only keeps the roses looking pristine but also helps stave off diseases and pests that tend to target decaying petals and hips. Monty stressed that gardeners should avoid merely plucking off dead petals; instead, they should use secateurs to cut the spent stem back to the next leaf or bud below, no matter how far down it might be. Monty highlighted the benefit of deadheading, stating it would "provoke a side-shoot which in turn will carry more flowers". He advised gardeners to regularly deadhead repeat-flowering shrub roses and those once-flowerers that don't bear hips. Furthermore, Monty emphasised the importance of continuing this practice well into July. He explained: "It is very important to keep deadheading roses in July as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses will have now finished all that they are going to do this year."
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Turn pink hydrangeas 'beautiful' blue with scrap kitchen item
Hydrangea flowers can range in colour from pink to blue, and one gardener has shared a simple trick to turn your pink hydrangeas blue - and it's all down to one kitchen scrap item Hydrangea varieties such as hydrangea macrophylla and hydrangea serrata offer a spectrum of colours, ranging from pink to blue, encompassing every shade of fuchsia, plum and periwinkle in between. Interestingly, the colour of these blooms can alter based on the quantity of aluminium absorbed by the plants from the soil, which is influenced by the soil's pH level. High concentrations of aluminium in acidic soil conditions result in the much sought-after bright blue to purple flowers. Conversely, lower levels of aluminium in the soil produce a variety of pink blooms. However, not all hydrangea species exhibit this colour-changing phenomenon. White hydrangeas remain unchanged, and some varieties are specifically bred for a particular colour scheme, reports the Express. The initial step involves testing your soil's pH level. Acidic soil (lower pH) will produce blue flowers, while alkaline soil (higher pH) will yield pink blooms. Soil test kits are readily available for purchase on Amazon for £12.99 or at B&Q for £6.99 to determine your soil's pH level. Once you've established your soil's general pH, you can adjust it accordingly to achieve either pink or blue hydrangea blooms. But what can be used to modify the colour of your hydrangeas? One gardener took to the Hydrangeas in the UK Facebook page to share her secret. She posted a photo of her "beautiful" hydrangeas adorned with vibrant blue blooms, attributing their colour to a common kitchen waste item. Shanta Patel posted: "This was a few years ago. Fed with coffee grounds." She revealed that the plant was initially pink when she purchased it from Ikea. When queried about the approach to utilising coffee grounds for plants, Shanta explained: "Add a layer [of used coffee grounds] on top every month and water it in." Shanta also disclosed the timeline for her pink hydrangeas' transformation into a blue hue, noting she observed changes "within the first year". Moreover, to sustain the soil's acidity, gardeners are advised to consider using orange peels, eggshells, or peat when viable. For those eager for swifter results, aluminium sulphate is a trusted aid in altering the colour of your pink hydrangeas to blue. The Trustleaf 1kg Tub Aluminium Sulphate, which is available on Amazon for £9.90, has been praised by customers who successfully turned their hydrangeas blue and maintained the shade. Another option for garden enthusiasts is acquiring the Hydrangea Colourant from Thompson & Morgan at the price of £5.99, which is equally effective in changing pink hydrangeas to blue.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Cheese on toast tastes better if one £1.20 British sauce is drizzled over it
Cheese on toast fits many occasions - from a post-night out snack to a warm and hearty stop-gap in the middle of the day, but one sauce will make it taste even better Cheese on toast is a staple snack loved by Brits for generations - but one sauce can elevate your toast in a split second. You can't go wrong with a good cheese on toast. Whether it's a quick, delicious snack, you can elevate its flavour by adding this one key ingredient. Do you have Worcestershire sauce? According to The Kitchn, food experts have recommended adding Worcestershire sauce to a cheese on toast to enhance its flavour and give it that sweet yet punchy kick to compliment the cheese. By experimenting and combining with different flavours, you can often find the best and most secretive ingredients to spice up your meals. Originated in Worcester and now famously-known worldwide, Worcestershire sauce is made from vinegar-based, flavoured with anchovies, turmeric, garlic, molasses, onion, salt and other spices. When mixed together, it becomes this delicious sweet but tangy flavour that goes perfectly with foods like cheese. Tara Holland, who tasted the recipe, said: 'Cheese on toast has been an after-school staple snack for kids (and a post-pub miracle midnight munchie cure for adults) in the United Kingdom for decades, if not longer!' As to when to add the sauce, Tara explained: 'Some might say toss the grated cheese in Worcestershire sauce before laying on the bread rather than drizzling the sauce on top before broiling.' However, this depends on the person's preference and the amount of sauce they'd like to add. 'I always add before and after. Another thing to bear in mind is if you use sliced cheese, the Worcestershire sauce either pools or slides off the cheese, so it is better to add it after broiling the cheese," she added. Doing so creates this immaculate bite. By simply using three ingredients, you're bound to make the most delicious snack to be enjoyed at any time of the day. You just need a piece of bread, some cheese and Worcestershire sauce. The sauce is available to purchase in all UK supermarkets and local stores, with prices starting at £1.20. If you're feeling adventurous and want to pair it with other dishes, Worcestershire sauce also goes well with grilled cheese and mac and cheese. Its sweet and tangy flavour just elevates any dish by adding the extra touch of missing richness, creating a one-of-a-kind creation. You'll thank me later.
