St George's Day, which falls on April 23rd, is celebrated as the national day of England. The day is named after Saint George, who is the patron saint of England and is widely recognised as a symbol of bravery and chivalry.
But April 23rd is not only significant for St. George's Day. It also celebrates the life of one of the most celebrated playwrights in history, William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is thought to have been born on 23rd April 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language, and his plays are still performed and studied today, more than 400 years after his death. His influence on the English language and culture is immeasurable.
Ironically, April 23rd is also the recorded date of Shakespeare's death in 1616, at the age of 52. It is believed that he fell ill while in Stratford-upon-Avon and died within a few days.
St. George's Day remains an important celebration of English culture and heritage, and the image of St. George slaying the dragon remains an iconic symbol of bravery and courage.
Is your name George, or do you have an interest in the theatre - or both? Well, how about celebrating with one of the great number plates in these searches:
Of course, even if you aren't one of an estimated 265,000 ‘Georges’ in the UK, we can pretty much guarantee we can find a plate for your actual name. Here are a few examples:
If theatre is your thing, check out some of our great themed plates:
