What is St. George’s Day?

Monday is the St. George’s Day holiday in this province, a day rooted in centuries-old tradition and observed as a provincial holiday.

Saint George’s Day honours Saint George, a Christian martyr believed to have lived in the third century. He is widely known through legend as the dragon-slaying patron saint of England.

While the feast day is traditionally recognized on April 23, Newfoundland and Labrador observes the holiday on the Monday closest to that date.

The day is one of several provincial holidays tied to the province’s historical connections to England and early colonial heritage. Unlike some statutory holidays, St. George’s Day is not classified as a shops closing holiday, meaning many businesses and services may remain open.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, it remains one of the lesser-celebrated public holidays, though it continues to hold cultural and historical significance.