Key facts
- St George
- England - 23 April
- St Andrew
- Scotland - 30 November
- St David
- Wales - 1 March
- St Patrick
- N. Ireland - 17 March
Each country in the UK has its own patron saint and a special day to celebrate them.
The Four Patron Saints
St George - England
- Date: 23 April
- Symbol: Red cross on white background
- Legend: Killed a dragon to save a princess
- Origins: Born in modern-day Turkey, Roman soldier
- St George's Day is not a public holiday
St Andrew - Scotland
- Date: 30 November
- Symbol: White X (saltire) on blue background
- Legend: Crucified on an X-shaped cross
- Origins: One of Jesus's 12 apostles
- St Andrew's Day is a bank holiday in Scotland
St David - Wales
- Date: 1 March
- Symbol: Daffodil and leek
- Legend: Welsh bishop who lived simply
- Origins: Welsh monk and bishop (6th century)
- St David's Day is not a public holiday
St Patrick - Northern Ireland (& Ireland)
- Date: 17 March
- Symbol: Shamrock
- Legend: Drove snakes from Ireland
- Origins: Romano-British, enslaved in Ireland, returned as missionary
- St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland
Celebrations
Each saint's day is marked by:
- Wearing national symbols (rose, thistle, daffodil, shamrock)
- Parades and festivals
- Cultural events
- Flying the national flag
Why it comes up in the test
Know each patron saint, their day, and which country they represent.
Common traps
- Confusing the dates
- Mixing up which saint belongs to which country
- Forgetting the symbols associated with each
Patron Saints of the UK: common questions
St George's Day (England) is on 23 April.
Related topics
- Countries of the United KingdomThe UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, each with its own identity, traditions, and (except England) devolved government.
- UK Bank HolidaysOfficial public holidays in the UK when most people have the day off work. England and Wales have 8 bank holidays, Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10.
Written from Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), the only official source for the test. BritPass is not affiliated with the Home Office; if anything here differs from the handbook, the handbook is right.
