In Barcelona we celebrate April 23rd, Sant Jordi (Saint George) , as a “lovers day”. Sant Jordi day is the most romantic day of the year. It is also known as Día de la rosa which means “Rose Day“. Sant Jordi is Catalonia’s version of Valentine’s day and is a one day festival of romance, roses and books all inspired by the legend of Saint George.
In the legend, a Dragon demanded two lambs to eat everyday, and in return he would not approach the city to eat its citizens. After a while the farmers ran out of sheep and started to provide the dragon with humans. They decided who would be fed to the dragon by way of a lottery. Eventually, the King’s daughter was picked from the hat and was to be fed to the dragon. Being a Princess, however she was rescued by Sant Jordi, a brave knight, who killed the dragon and saved the Princess. Sant Jordi gave the princess a red rose from a rose bush which had grown from the dragon’s red blood.
Traditionally on Sant Jordi Day, men give their loved ones a red rose and the women give a book. Nowadays both the men and women receive a book. Sant Jordi is one of the most beautiful days of the year in Barcelona. The city is covered in roses and book shop owners have stalls on the street selling books. People walk around carrying red roses and making stops to buy books. If you are lucky you will find some good authors signing books on a stand on La Rambla.
Sant Jordi 2012 en Barcelona from Barcelona en HD
