Sant Jordi is the patron saint of Catalunya…….as well as of England and Palestine and many other places. He is also called Saint George!.. April 23rd is the second most important Feast day in Catalunya and is called El Diada de Sant Jordi or El Dia de la Rose or El Dia del Llibre.
It is the Catalan day for lovers and it is traditional for men to give women a rose
and for women to buy books for the men
Children also give roses to their mothers and some mothers give books to their children
So it is book, rose and love day!
Several different celebrations have joined together to create this fiesta and it felt a very happy mix.
In Granollers the central streets were full of stalls selling books or roses. Everyone seemed to be on the streets choosing their books, holding their roses or waiting to meet someone special.
As it is a national day there were lots of Catalan flags hung from windows and walls and on the stalls. It is four red stripes on a golden background and is called the Senyera.
In one small square there was a poetry reading with a large audience and several poets
and in the main square a band playing traditional music for people to dance sardanas.
The association of roses with this day goes back beyond medieval times and there are records of a festival of roses but the book tradition seems to have started in 1923 when a bookseller promoted the holiday as a way to commemorate the deaths of Shakespeare and Cervantes. Half the yearly total book sales in Catalunya take place on this day.
I went twice to the central square to browse the stalls and mill around with hundreds of other people, most of them holding roses or books or both. It felt much nicer than Valentines Day which for me was always a disappointment – the feeling of failure if a card didn’t come, the imposed coupledom of the restaurants in the evening, a sense of isolation whether alone or in a pair. Sant Jordi however was a social event – like so many things here in Catalunya. People were out in the streets, talking to friends, meeting neighbours, watching the band playing sardanas, dancing sardanas, buying books and roses, sitting not in couples but in large groups in the cafes.
Of course it is also nice to get a book as well as a rose!
What a lovely combination – and a fun and vibrant festival and social gathering. Beats valentine’s day, doesn’t it!
This just lovely Kate. How lucky you are to be able to be both an observer and a participant in the rich Catalonian life and culture. It’s something to treasure forever. And I love your blog. I’m a bit like you though – ‘why no comments? Doesn’t anyone like my blog?’ So I’ll be better at keeping in touch. Ah well – back to Beltane and May Day..
Liz
Thanks Liz – I also do get emails from people but I don’t know why they don’t comment on the actual blog! Perhaps not knowing how, perhaps shyness, perhaps nothing pithy to say and its easier to write a longer note. I think it is only when you have a blog that you realise how lovely the comments are – they make it come to life!
My first comment from someone I don’t actually know was a great moment – I wonder if there are any more out there???? K x
What a lovely tradition – does the last photo show the books and rose you gave and received?
Christine
Yes – I got a rose and we bought two books together – one on wildlife in the Montseny area where we go a lot and the other about herbs and their uses. K x
Hi Kate,
How is the Catalan spring progressing? Your blog is so full of lovely observations, I really look forward to your news. How is Duna? I hope you are all well and happy.
Love, Kim
What a lovely description of this festival which Victoria described to me too. What better combination: books and roses! Wished I could have been there. As you know, nothing happens in the UK on St George’s Day!