One of the most significant, exciting and beautiful days that can be enjoyed in the city of Barcelona is the day of ‘Sant Jordi’. Roses, books and romanticism meet every 23rd April in the streets of Barcelona to celebrate International Book Day and the day of its patron saint, Saint George, known locally as ‘Sant Jordi’. This is one of the most important dates in the Catalonian calendar, celebrating and paying homage to the day of culture and love. Below, we'll introduce you to Barcelona's Saint George's Day, say why it is celebrated and tell you what this unique festival is all about.
Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the most important cities in Spain, as it is the second most populous city in the country and the sixth in the European Union. Capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, this city is located on the Mediterranean coast.
Its long and important history, its places of interest, location, gastronomy, culture and traditions have made Barcelona one of the most important and visited cities in Europe. Among its monuments of interest are Gaudí's Sagrada Familia cathedral, one of the icons of the city, as well as its important popular festivals like Saint George's Day.
St. George’s Day in Barcelona
Every 23rd April, the streets of Barcelona are flooded with roses and books to celebrate Saint George's Day, the patron saint of Catalonia as well as of England. This popular festival combines culture and romanticism.
Tradition dictates that couples should exchange gifts such as books, mainly for the men, and roses as a symbol of love for the women. Over the years, though, Saint George's Day has become a unique time to celebrate love and culture.
This festive day is the result of a mixture of traditions from different eras. However, emphasis is placed on the legend of Saint George and the dragon. Saint George rescued the princess by slaying the dragon, and from the blood it shed, a rose was born, a symbol of true and sincere love. ‘Sant Jordi’ is also the patron saint of Catalonia and his chapel can be visited in the Palace of the Generalitat, a place where traditionally a rose fair was held in the Middle Ages.
During this festival period, Barcelona transforms into an enormous open-air bookshop and flower shop. The streets are filled with roses, books and people who are looking for a present not only for their loved one, but also for family and friends. Also, among the paradetas, the book stalls, you can find both the most-recently published books and the consecrated authors themselves signing copies of their books while passers-by enjoy the aroma of the roses. It’s a day that represents a true expression of love and a worshipping of culture in Catalonia.
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