Saint George / Aragon Day
When is it celebrated
Saint George and Aragon Day are celebrated on 23 April of each year. The date is fixed: Law 1/1984 declared it Aragon Day because it is the traditional commemoration of Saint George. Some institutional or cultural events are scheduled on nearby days, although the festive core remains on the 23rd.
Is it a holiday or a working day?
23 April is holiday for all purposes, including work, throughout Aragon, according to Law 1/1984. The 2026 work calendar also identifies it as an Autonomous Community Holiday. Even if it is a stable legal declaration, the official calendar of each year must be reviewed to know its work publication and any applicable provisions.
Origin and geographical link
It is an Aragonese regional festival linked to the patronage of San Jorge. Historical tradition linked it with the battle of Alcoraz and with the monarchy and army of the Kingdom of Aragon; The Cortes meeting in Calatayud declared 23 April a holiday in 1461. The General Council of Aragon recovered the date as Aragon Day in 1978 and the Cortes consolidated it by law in 1984.
Regular events
The programme combines institutional events with concerts, jota and other folkloric shows, theater, dance, exhibitions, family activities and dissemination of Aragonese history and heritage. Coinciding with Book Day, bookstore and publishing fairs, author signings and, in some cities, flower stands are characteristic. Religious and sporting events linked to Saint George are also celebrated.
Usual duration of events
The official holiday lasts one day, on 23 April, but cultural programmes can begin one or several days before. In each capital, continuous morning and afternoon activities are usually offered, while concerts, ceremonies, markets and performances have their own schedules. The exact extension must be checked in the programme of each edition and municipality.
Traditions and history
Aragonese devotion to Saint George has been documented since the Middle Ages and is traditionally associated with the battle of Alcoraz. Law 1/1984 recalls that the Cortes of 1461 declared the saint's day a holiday for all of Aragon and that this decision was ratified in Monzón in 1564. Today the civic dimension of Aragon Day coexists with jotas, traditional dances and music, religious celebrations and book culture.
Where is it celebrated
It is celebrated throughout Aragon, with notable programmes in Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel and activities in numerous locations. In Zaragoza, the Pignatelli Building and the axis of Paseo de la Independencia are common; in Huesca, the hill and the hermitage of San Jorge; and in Teruel, the Plaza del Torico. The specific venues vary each year.
Who participates
The Government of Aragon and the town councils promote a good part of the programming together with cultural entities and local organizers. Artistic companies, folk groups, musicians, sports associations, booksellers, publishers, authors, florists, educational centres and religious entities participate, as well as families, readers and visitors who attend the open activities.