logo
Everything you need to know about St George's Day 2025 – flag, dragon and traditions explained

Everything you need to know about St George's Day 2025 – flag, dragon and traditions explained

Scottish Sun23-04-2025

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
SAINT George's Day is a day of celebration across England, as people celebrate the history of the country.
Normally celebrated on 23rd April each year, the date has been moved in 2025 for a very important reason.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
St George's Day is marked by many different exciting traditions
Credit: Getty Images
3
Morris dancing is a big part of the St George's Day celebrations
Credit: Getty Images
The Story of St George
The real St George was a Roman soldier born in the 3rd century AD.
He was executed for refusing to renounce his Christian faith, making him a martyr and eventually leading to him being venerated as a saint.
England adopted St George as its patron saint in the 14th century during the reign of King Edward III.
He was chosen for his virtues of courage, honour, and chivalry, which resonated with medieval England.
However, as time went by, myths and legends began being built around St George.
The most famous tale about him follows his heroic rescue of a princess from a terrifying dragon.
According to the tale, villagers routinely fed sheep to a dragon which lorded over their town.
However, when they ran out of sheep, they decided to offer up their princess to the creature.
Riding past on his horse, St George decided to step in and killed the dragon - setting the villagers and the Princess free.
This story reached England in the 12th Century, during the Crusades, but actually dates all the way back to the 11th Century.
It was originally set in Cappadocia, Turkey, but was later transferred to Libya in later myths.
In the very first versions of the myth, which can be traced back to the 9th Century, St George's battle was actually attributed to St Theodore Trio.
St George is now also the patron saint of Ethiopia, Georgia, and Portugal, and cities such as Freiburg, Moscow and Beirut.
The St George's Flag
The St George's Flag has been associated with England since the Middle Ages.
GMB guest in furious row with Ed Balls and The Apprentice's Tom Skinner as they lock horns over St George's Day
It was originally used by English soldiers during the Crusades and later became part of the Union Jack, along with Scotland and Northern Ireland's flags.
The St George's Flag is a simple design consisting of a red cross on a white background.
The red cross is representative of St George's cross, and the white background symbolises peace.
Red was chosen as the colour of the iconic cross in order to represent bravery and strength.
St George's Day Traditions in the UK
St George's Day is one of the biggest celebrations on the UK calendar, with schools and churches across the country joining in the fun.
Traditional activities include parades, church services, and flag-waving ceremonies.
Some communities even host medieval fairs, complete with knights, reconstructions of the legendary dragon and storytelling.
Morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows are especially popular, as much of the day focuses on celebrating England's long history.
Pubs and restaurants also often offer themed menus and drinks.
3
The day is often marked by a speech from the sitting Prime Minister
Credit: PA Media
St George's Day in 2025
In 2025, St George's Day will not fall on Wednesday, 23 April, as it usually does.
The holiday generally falls on the 23rd, as this is believed to have been the date of St George's death.
In 2025, The Church of England has moved the annual feast day to April 28 as no saint's day can take place a week before or after Easter.
Easter Sunday fell on April 20 in 2025.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer chose to recognise St George's Day on April 23, despite the move, with a stirring speech.
He said: 'Yet now – we can see people trying to sow division in our communities.
"People taking the red and white of our flag with them as they throw bricks at businesses.
'That is what happened last year – in the riots.
"And we must fight it.
"Because it was the aftermath of the riots that showed what it means to be English.
'It marked the coming together of a country.
"People who got together the morning after, all across Britain.
"With shovels, brooms, and brushes, to clean up their communities.
'Rebuilding walls, repairing damage.
"It's in that spirit that we reclaim our flag for our country.
"For English decency, honour and fairness.
'Wrench it out of the hands of those who want to divide this nation.
"And reclaim it for good.'
St George's Day has been recognised as a national holiday in England since the early 15th century, though it is not recognised as a bank holiday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes
Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes

Leader Live

time33 minutes ago

  • Leader Live

Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes

Peter Fincham was the former Director of Television at ITV before Kevin Lygo took over. Fincham has suggested that, due to budget concerns at ITV, Emmerdale could move filming away from Yorkshire and merge production with Coronation Street in Manchester. The ex-ITV boss has predicted that following the recent announcement of daytime changes at the broadcaster, it's likely executives are looking at similar measures for the two soaps. It's the question on everyone's minds... Is Robert back for good? Read more here: Discussing the soaps on The TV Podcast, Fincham said: "You've got Coronation Street being made in Manchester, Emmerdale in Leeds. 'Could you imagine, rather like the daytime consolidation, that ITV will decide to have them both made in the same place under one umbrella? Big savings. 'You still keep Emmerdale set in Yorkshire, but it could be made in Manchester and Salford, which is a bigger hub for ITV. 'I don't think that's inconceivable — it might be being planned as we speak." Emmerdale is currently made in north Leeds, while Coronation Street is mostly filmed in MediaCity in Salford. As the ex-ITV boss adds: "The new hub for Coronation Street in Salford, it cost many, many millions of pounds and it was better facilities for all the people who worked on it in the old place in the middle of Manchester." Recommended Reading: ITV unveils major changes to GMB, Lorraine and Loose Women Emmerdale star breaks silence on return after 6 years and fans 'can't believe it' Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals she nearly landed this iconic Emmerdale role An ITV spokesperson said: "ITV has no plans to merge the productions of Coronation Street and Emmerdale. "Both are uniquely set in Manchester and Leeds and that production model will continue for the long term. "It's pure speculation to say otherwise." The change follows news that ITV is making major changes to its daytime scheduling in 2026. The overhaul will see Good Morning Britain (GMB) extended by half an hour from January 2026, while Lorraine Kelly's morning talk show will be reduced to 30 minutes for 30 weeks of the year.

I lost my teaching job after my OnlyFans was unearthed – my pupils were stunned when they saw the pics
I lost my teaching job after my OnlyFans was unearthed – my pupils were stunned when they saw the pics

Scottish Sun

time42 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

I lost my teaching job after my OnlyFans was unearthed – my pupils were stunned when they saw the pics

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Scots teacher who was struck off over her OnlyFans account revealed how staff and pupils reacted after her X-rated pics were unearthed. Kirsty Buchan defended her decision to join the adult site as she joined Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Kirsty Buchan defended her decision to join OnlyFans Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 She joined Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 The former physics teacher was struck off after her OnlyFans account was discovered Credit: Kirsty Buchan The ex-physics teacher, 34, was struck off after pupils discovered her OnlyFans profile online. She quit her job at Bannerman High School in Glasgow after her saucy side hustle was uncovered. The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GCTS) took action by striking her off the teaching register. The regulation body found that Buchan had failed to conceal her identity and profession, and also concluded that her behaviour lacked integrity. She previously revealed that she earned £60,000 in a month. The mum stated that the joined the site to earn some cash when her son was ill and to pay her bills. Kirsty said: "We all need to take responsibility. Of course I knew the risks, I'm a mum at the end of the day - my son comes first, my bills come first. "I spoke to my son before doing it. He's 14 now going on 30 so I knew there was a risk involved. "I used a different name, I've got my moniker Jessica Jackrabbit, I put a wig on and loads of make-up that didn't look like me. I didn't think I would be caught, I didn't think I would be famous." Kirsty called herself Jessica Jackrabbit on OnlyFans, a site where users pay a monthly subscription to access explicit content. Female teacher, 27, had 'sex with student in classroom' hours before arrest as '8-month relationship' exposed She described herself as a "good teacher gone bad" with a "sexy tight body". When she was asked by Richard what the reaction was throughout the school, she added: "All support. I've had messages even this morning from all my old colleagues, and all the school kids still support me to this day." She said they never made rude comments or jokes to her face. Kirsty added: "I worked hard to get respect from them and build a positive relationship. "It would be harder to build a good relationship with new pupils but the ones I already worked hard to build a relationship with, I've still got that bond with them to this day, She then claimed that an adult "illegally copyrighted" her photos and "sent them out to the children" at the school. 5 She quit her job at Bannerman High School in Glasgow after her saucy side hustle was uncovered. Credit: Kirsty Buchan 5 Buchan called herself Jessica Jackrabbit on OnlyFans Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing When quizzed about the atmosphere in the classroom, she said: "Of course there were giggles, they were saying it was like Christmas come early… you don't want them to see you that way. "Some of the staff obviously weren't too pleased because obviously it did have a name for the school, it's not about the school, I'm just a teacher, and a mother in Glasgow, it just so happened I was at Bannerman High School." She was previously warned by her headteacher about her "poor judgement" on social media. Gary Burton, solicitor and presenting officer for the GTCS, said the mum-of-one had "used her profession as a selling tool". He added that Buchan appeared to have backed up her OnlyFans work in media interviews and that Bannerman High was "now synonymous with having an OnlyFans teacher". Bannerman High headteacher, Seonaidh Black, said Buchan was a "bubbly and enthusiastic" person who "wanted to do a good job". But she added that on a "couple of occasions", Buchan was unclear on boundaries with pupils concerning her social media profiles being "open where pupils could access them".

Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes
Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes

The Herald Scotland

timean hour ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes

Fincham has suggested that, due to budget concerns at ITV, Emmerdale could move filming away from Yorkshire and merge production with Coronation Street in Manchester. The ex-ITV boss has predicted that following the recent announcement of daytime changes at the broadcaster, it's likely executives are looking at similar measures for the two soaps. Emmerdale and Coronation Street face major changes Discussing the soaps on The TV Podcast, Fincham said: "You've got Coronation Street being made in Manchester, Emmerdale in Leeds. 'Could you imagine, rather like the daytime consolidation, that ITV will decide to have them both made in the same place under one umbrella? Big savings. 'You still keep Emmerdale set in Yorkshire, but it could be made in Manchester and Salford, which is a bigger hub for ITV. 'I don't think that's inconceivable — it might be being planned as we speak." Emmerdale is currently made in north Leeds, while Coronation Street is mostly filmed in MediaCity in Salford. As the ex-ITV boss adds: "The new hub for Coronation Street in Salford, it cost many, many millions of pounds and it was better facilities for all the people who worked on it in the old place in the middle of Manchester." Recommended Reading: The change follows news that ITV is making major changes to its daytime scheduling in 2026. The overhaul will see Good Morning Britain (GMB) extended by half an hour from January 2026, while Lorraine Kelly's morning talk show will be reduced to 30 minutes for 30 weeks of the year. ITV has been approached for a comment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store