St George's Day 2025 UPDATES: Thousands celebrate the patron saint of England despite Church pushing back feast day
ST GEORGE'S Day is usually celebrated on April 23 every year – but not this year.
If you're hoping to celebrate the patron saint of England you'll have to wait after Church officials put back this year's feast day to Monday, April 28.
According to church rules, no saint's day can take place in the week before or after Easter.
If and when it does fall during this period, the day is "transferred to the Monday after the second Sunday of Easter".
The shift in date comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said England faces a "never-ending fight for our flag and what it represents".
You can follow or live blog, below, for all the latest updates and reaction ...
2 minutes ago By Allan Glen
The patron saint of England ... and Bulgaria
As well as being the patron saint of England, St George is also celebrated in Albania, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Greece, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Castile and León, Catalonia, Alcoi, Aragon, Genoa, and Rio de Janeiro.
10 minutes ago By Allan Glen
'Shakespeare to Wembley' – message from the Mayor
From Shakespeare to Wembley, queueing to Sunday roasts—being English means many things. But at its heart, it's about standing up for what we believe in: democracy, fairness, decency and respect. This St George's Day, let's celebrate all it means to be English.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
17 minutes ago By Allan Glen
Thousands prepare to celebrate
Thousands of people are expected to celebrate St George's Day across England and around the world today – despite the Church of England moving the official date to April 28.
Nottingham is expected to display the largest St George's flag in the heart of the city, while the Welsh villages of Broughton & Saltney could also be marking St George's Day in style, with the tiny hamlets being named as the most English part of the UK in the 2021 Census.
24 minutes ago By Allan Glen
Politicians didn't get the memo ...
Here's "proud Englishman" Lee Anderson posting on X:
By Allan Glen
'Illiterate about Christianity'
St George's Day was last moved in 2019 when the Labour Party was mocked for posting on X, now Twitter, a day early.
Then Prime Minister Theresa and London Mayor Sadiq Khan also posted messages wishing England a "happy St George's Day".
It led to a church historian branding politicians as 'illiterate about Christianity".
38 minutes ago By Allan Glen
Church statement on date change
Here is the Church of England's statement: "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."
40 minutes ago By Allan Glen
Welcome to the Sun's not-quite St George's Day 2025 live blog
Thanks for joining us. We'll keep you updated throughout the day with all the reaction to the Church of England's announcement that the date is being moved.
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