Apr 23, 2023
St. George's Day 2023
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates St. George’s Day and the lore surrounding him. On this day in 303, St. George passed away, but the tales of his adventures live on.
Legend has it that St. George visited a town in Libya called Silene, where a dragon guarded the only well. When he realised the people’s access to fresh water was heavily limited, he slayed the dragon and liberated the city from it. Bushes with the reddest roses ever seen are said to have begun growing throughout Silene after the dragon was defeated — so some people give a red rose to a loved one on St. George’s Day, or wear one on their lapel. Today’s Doodle artwork (made from hand-cut acrylic glass) features the dragon and roses from the tale of St. George.
Those who celebrate the day may hang a flag featuring St. George’s cross, which is a red cross on a white background. And the celebrations aren’t limited to the United Kingdom — ceremonies take place across Venice, Genoa, Portugal, Ethiopia, and Catalonia on this day as well.
Happy St. George’s Day! 🌹
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