St. George's Day

Canada - Newfoudland and Labrador - Monday Closest to April 23rd

St. George's Day is celebrated on April 23rd. St. George's Day is not an official national holiday in Canada. It is, however, a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador, where it is usually observed on the Monday nearest April 23rd.

According to legend, St. George, a soldier of the Imperial Army, rescues a town in what is now Libya from the tyranny of a people-eating dragon. St. George overpowered the beast and then offered to kill it if the townspeople would convert to Christianity and be baptized. The story is that there were 15,000 conversions on the spot. Openly espousing Christianity was dangerous and eventually the authorities of Emperor Diocletian arrested George. He was martyred about 303 AD.