Why is St. George's Day celebrated? Church of England moves feast to next week
While the feast for St. George's Day is held on the 23rd of April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death, this year it has been moved to Monday, April 28. A Church of England rule dictates that a saint's day cannot fall within a week before or after Easter, which was observed on April 20 this year.
A note issued by the Church of England, according to The Express, reads, '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.'
The origin of St. George's Day dates back to as early as the 9th Century, according to The Sun. However, modern understandings are based on 11th and 12th Century versions of the story behind the revered saint.
In the tale, which is focused on a village in Cappadocia, Turkey (changed to Libya in some versions), villagers offer their princess to a hungry dragon when they run out of sheep. However, the mythical creature was slain by Saint George, who rescued the princess.
The saint's bravery solidified his position as England's patron saint. The country has observed St. George's Day as a national holiday since the 15th Century. Some of the most important and common traditions on this day are Morris dancing, Medieval and Renaissance fairs, and displays of dragons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Pope to bestow one of Catholic Church's highest honors on John Henry Newman
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday decided to declare St. John Henry Newman a 'doctor' of the church, bestowing one of the Catholic Church's highest honors on the deeply influential 19th century Anglican convert who remains a unifying figure in both the Anglican and Catholic churches. Pope Leo XIV's move to name Newman a doctor of the Church marks a major early decision in his papacy, highlighting Newman's influence and personal connection to Leo.(X) The Vatican said Leo confirmed the opinion of the Vatican's saint-making office during an audience Thursday with its prefect, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, and would make the decision official soon. The designation is one of the most significant decisions of Leo's young papacy and also carries deep personal meaning: Newman was strongly influenced by St. Augustine of Hippo, the inspiration of Leo's Augustinian religious order. The title of doctor is reserved for people whose writings have greatly served the universal church. Only three-dozen people have been given the title over the course of the church's 2,000-year history, including St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales and St. Teresa of Avila. Also Read: Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed diplomacy on 50th anniversary of Helsinki Accords Newman beatified in 2010, canonised in 2019 Newman's path to being declared a doctor has been exceptionally quick, after Pope Benedict XVI beatified him during a visit to Britain in 2010. Pope Francis made him a saint in 2019, with then-Prince Charles in attendance. Newman, a theologian and poet, is admired by Catholics and Anglicans alike because he followed his conscience at great personal cost. When he defected from the Church of England to the Catholic Church in 1845, he lost friends, work and even family ties, believing the truth he was searching for could only be found in the Catholic faith. Also Read: Vatican bets on 'hot priests' to attract Gen Z followers, spread the gospel online Newman led Oxford Movement to revive Catholic tradition in Anglicanism Newman was one of the founders of the so-called Oxford Movement of the 1830s, which sought to revive certain Roman Catholic doctrines in the Church of England by looking back to the traditions of the earliest Christian church. But he gave up a brilliant academic career at Oxford University and the pulpit of the university church to convert to Catholicism. As a Catholic, he became one of the most influential theologians of the era, bringing elements of the Anglican church into his new faith tradition. He died in Britain in 1890.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Lifesaving Heroes: How Fishermen on Velankanni Beach Are Rescuing Tourists from Drowning
SAFE AND SOUND: Helping Hands, a team of 20 trained fishermen, has been saving lives since 1997. Pic R Baskar For about three decades, a group of fishermen has been saving lives on Velankanni Beach, so much so that the coastal security force calls them their 'first response arm' in emergencies. It's a movement, says P Antony Franklin Jeyaraj, that was born out of a moment of helplessness. In the summer of 1997, Jeyaraj, then a 27-year-old social worker from Velankanni, watched in shock as three tourists were swept away by strong waves. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai 'Family members were crying beside the bodies,' says the 55-year-old. 'I kept wondering, could they have been saved?' Jeyaraj then began thinking about a lifesaving service and that was how 'Helping Hands' was launched with a catamaran and a couple of fishermen. Today, the team has 20 trained fishermen, motorised boats and a permanent booth on Velankanni beach. 'We can now reach out to people in seconds,' says Jeyaraj. S Selvamani, a fisherman for more than 40 years, was among the earliest to join the Helping Hands lifeguards. Selvamani lost six of his family members, including his father and elder brother, in the Dec 2004 tsunami. 'I was traumatised seeing my family being taken by the sea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Surprising Benefits of This Sweet Little Fruit — You'll Want to Eat It Every Day! Learn More Undo A year later, I told myself I would not let anyone else die like that again,' says the 58-year-old who now trains younger guards. Two decades ago, saving lives from drowning was riskier, says Selvamani. There were no megaphones to issue warnings, no boats with motors. 'We would stand chest-deep in the sea for hours, blowing whistles and shouting to keep people from going too far. When someone was in trouble, we would just rush in to save them.' S Vivek, a fisherman from Velankanni who has been a lifeguard for more than 10 years, now leads the Helping Hands team. He's been going to sea since he was 16. His day begins at 3am with fishing, and once he is done selling his catch by 9am, he is on the beach till 6pm, on lifeguard duty. 'People panic when they're swept away. They fight the waves and get exhausted. When we reach them, they sometimes try to pull us under,' says the 37-year-old. Another major problem, says Vivek, are intoxicated swimmers. 'They ignore warnings and flail around in panic. Rescuing them is hard. It is sometimes easier when they start to lose consciousness,' he adds. Most people rescued are rushed for medical aid, and the team performs CPR until the ambulance arrives. 'The failed rescues take a toll on us mentally, especially when it's children or teenagers,' says Vivek. Footfalls at Velankanni peak during Christmas, Easter, New Year, and the annual St Mary's Nativity Festival, says S Arputharaj, parish priest at the Velankanni Shrine Basilica. 'Helping Hands is a big support in those times, especially with thousands visiting the beach every day.' Last Sept saw footfalls of more than a million people at the Velankanni Shrine Basilica. 'It is so overwhelming during the festival days that we now close access to Velankanni beach during the annual St Mary's Nativity festival,' says K Ramesh Kumar, inspector from Tamil Nadu Police's Coastal Security Group. Ramesh says police consider 'Helping Hands' as their first response arm during emergencies, like the community initiative 'Friends of Police' (FOP). The lifeguards say they do not remember the names of those they have saved. 'Sometimes, people we have saved recognise us. They come up, remind us of what happened, and thank us. That's our reward,' says Selvamani. Email your feedback with name and address to
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Queensland grandfather wins entire $30.6 million Powerball jackpot
A retired grandfather from Queensland has become the sole winner of Thursday night's Powerball jackpot, taking home a life-changing $30.63 million. The Division One prize, drawn in Powerball Draw 1523 on July 24, was claimed by a single ticket holder, making this one of the most significant solo wins in recent Powerball history. The lucky man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, expressed disbelief and overwhelming excitement during a phone call from officials. 'Holy sh**! Wow. Unbelievable!' he said, clearly stunned by the news. He described the moment as surreal, admitting he had never expected to receive such a call. While he had played lotteries casually for years, the most he had previously won was a modest Easter basket. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Management Leadership Design Thinking healthcare MCA Technology Data Analytics Data Science Digital Marketing Degree MBA Others Artificial Intelligence others Product Management Data Science Project Management Public Policy Cybersecurity Operations Management CXO PGDM Finance Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details He had originally planned to play his usual numbers in a Saturday Lotto game but was swayed by the higher prize pool in Powerball. Using his longstanding set of numbers, he purchased the ticket that ultimately changed his life. 'I usually play on Saturday night, but I saw Powerball had $30 million and thought I'd give it a go,' he explained. Beyond personal enjoyment, the retiree said he intends to use the money to help others. 'I've lived a good life and this will be used more for helping others. I'll make sure it helps people who need it,' he added. This win adds to a notable year of major lottery prizes across Australia. In June, one player scooped a $100 million Oz Lotto jackpot, and several multi-million-dollar prizes have been awarded through Powerball and other national games in 2024 and 2025. Live Events
