St. George’s Day. April 23 in Albania is associated with the name Gjergj, a name of both religious and national significance.
- Gjergj – The Albanian form of George, derived from the Greek Georgios, meaning farmer or earth-worker. It is strongly tied to Saint George, one of Christianity’s most venerated saints. In Albania, April 23 is celebrated as Saint George’s Day (Dita e Shën Gjergjit), a day that blends Christian traditions with local customs of renewal and springtime.
The name Gjergj also carries patriotic weight in Albanian history, most notably connected to Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, the national hero who led resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.
