It is thought that St George's Day is one of the busiest single-day celebrations, behind St Patrick's Day and Mother's Day. The celebration of St George's Day is to some extent low key here in England. However, it is much celebrated elsewhere including countries such as Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice.



A lot of pubs do English menus and encourage family outing. Over the years there has been a debate whether it should be declared a national holiday or not. This is a tough call considering the fact that it falls right by two important, and more established, bank holidays; Easter and May bank holiday. This year's St George's Day is on Wednesday 23 April 2008.

London has always held its own when it comes to celebrating this day. This year, the celebrations start on Saturday the 21st of April through Sunday the 22nd of April 2008. For the fourth year running the Mayor of London will celebrate St George's Day with a series of free events. For 2007 the programme included a celebration of English humour, the popular annual Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations at the Globe Theatre. Plus outdoor screenings of historic silent Shakespeare films, a festival for St George at Covent Garden and a parade at the Cenotaph.

The attendance of more than 5,567 people broke the coconut orchestra world record in Trafalgar Square, as part of the celebrations. Previously, the attendance record was held by New York with 1785 people.

Who was St George? St George is a legend. He was a defender of the weak. He also defended Christianity from the cruel Roman emperor Diocletian, who felt Christianity threatened his power. Young George enlisted into the Cavalry of the Roman Army at the age of 17, during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. He rose through the ranks to the top due to his physical and character strengths. St. George gained great respect for his compassion towards Diocletian's victims.

What is myth and what is fact? Did he really slay the Dragon? Born in Turkey (in Cappadocia). He lived in 3rd century AD with his Christian parents. Later he lived in Palestine where he became a Roman soldier. The day of 23rd April was named as Saint George's day in 1222. St George defended his faith without compromise. He was beheaded at Nicomedia near Lyddia in Palestine on the 23rd of April in the year 303 AD.

Why is he such a popular Saint, celebrated in so many Countries, Races, Religions and Organisations? Most authorities on the subject seem to agree that he was born in Cappadocia in what is now Turkey, in about the year 280 AD. It was in the year 1415 AD that St. George became the Patron Saint of England when English Soldiers under Henry V won the battle of Agincourt. Many regiments of the Army still celebrate St. George's Day with great ceremony.

There are many patriotic groups that help advance the tradition of St George' day. One such group is The Royal Society of St. George. The society is known to organising the Short Service, Wreath Laying and the March Past. Founded in 1894 with the intention of promoting "Englishness" and the English way of life, it now has 107 branches, many of them overseas. When England is involved in sports; rugby, football, cricket and on many other occasions, the St Georges' flag is the emblem of choice for supporters.