April 23rd is a big celebration here in Catalunya – the day of Sant Jordi (or Saint George, as you probably know him). But what’s the day all about?
The first year I was here, I saw the Saint George’s cross flags (a red cross on a white background) all around the city, and my first thought was that it was an English party. Oops.
Actually, Sant Jordi’s day here is very romantic. It often gets described to foreigners as something like a “Catalan Valentine’s Day”, although there are fewer chocolates involved and a lot more dragons and books. It starts with the legend of Saint George killing the dragon. According to the story, a rose sprang up from the dragon’s blood.
So where do the books come in? April 23rd is also World Book Day, and the day both Cervantes and Shakespeare allegedly died (although…I’m pretty sure that is up for debate). Traditionally, girls get roses and guys get a book, but today girls often get BOTH!
Or, in my case, I had rose-flavored ice cream and fresh-squeezed juice and called it a day, as my afternoon was leaning towards dangerously hipster.
This year, I saw something I hadn’t noticed before at the festival – a strong sense of Catalan pride. I’m sure it’s been there for a while, but this year there were quite a few fun things on display.
Like these proud independence cookies:
An offer to buy a “.cat” domain name for less than €8:
This political group campaigning for “A new country for a new Europe” (and, by the way, the crazy crowds):
And now, let’s move on to the Catalan flowers.
These roses have been “cultivated in Catalan countries”:
These are “freedom roses”, which reminded me of the “freedom fries” thing:
And these ones feature a subtle sticker of the Catalan stripes:
I had a great time wandering around all the displays this year. It really couldn’t have been a more perfect spring day to enjoy the beautiful Gothic quarter – with the added bonus that every so often a rose-scented breeze blew past.
Happy Sant Jordi, everyone. Would you rather get a book or a flower as a gift (I know which one I would choose!)?
Besos!
-Jess
I was in Caceras on the 23rd of April last year, and the festival of St. Jordi is celebrated there with a huge parade featuring the Saracens and their captive princesses, St. George on his white horse and the burning of a dragon (made of crepe paper) followed by fireworks. Huge crowds, but wonderful good spirits. We need more saints to celebrate!
Yes! I love all the saints’ days here. The traditions are so interesting to learn about, plus you often get the day off work (though not for Sant Jordi). 🙂
I have never heard of this tradition, but the whole city looks so colorful and bright! 🙂
It was! The whole city was gorgeous and it smelled nice as well. 🙂
Yesterday was the first time I’d ever heard of the festival and I think it’s a sweet idea. I’d rather get a (good) book than a flower, any day.
Me too! 🙂 So far, nobody has picked just the flowers haha. Oh well! It’s a really sweet festival.
Wonderful pictures, lovely texts-thank you!
Incidentally, we can all go on celebrating: this week it is Shakespeare’s 450th birthday. ( he is known to have been baptized on 26th April, and since it was customary in Elizabethan England to be babtized at the tender age of three days, scholars have got the date of birth as 23rd April, 1564.) I learned this from yesterday’s Irish Times.
Looking forward to new posts and wishing you and you cats a happy spring,
Tarja Laine.
Thanks Tarja! Don’t they say Shakespeare was born and died on the same day? I’m not sure if that’s true, but it’s interesting either way.
By the way, one of my good friends here is named Tarja too. 🙂
I, too, vote for books 🙂
Very interesting angle, focussing on the independence movement. I can’t decide whether I think it’s a sweet way to transmit national pride or it’s too cheap taking San Jordi hostage (I’m generally against the independence, but I am definitely not well enough informed to have a valid opinion on the matter).
Books are the strong winner here! 🙂
I was split on the independence thing at the festival as well. Some of it didn’t have anything at all to do with the traditions or ideas, but then again it is a very Catalan festival, so why not? But it is interesting that at lots of the big events, the political groups come out, whether or not their presence is relevant.
I learned about this tradition last year and thought it was really cool, especially since at school we make a big deal about the International Book Day. However, my bilingual coordinator at school pointed out that men receiving books and women receiving…flowers is rather machista since it kind of implies that women can’t/shouldn’t read.
Regardless, I loved this unique angle you took on the holiday, capturing the nationalistic fervor that somehow managed to take over this festival.
It’s true, it is machista that the guys get a book and the girls flowers. But that’s changed now, luckily! Girls usually get both today, or at least ones my age do (maybe older couples still follow the original tradition, though I’m not sure). I’d rather have a book any day of the year!
I love all the little details you captured! And I think a Valentine’s day based on dragons rather than chocolate sounds WAY more exciting 🙂
Yeah, it has a fun story behind it! And there is also often chocolate involved – they sell stuff like chocolate roses. 🙂
I was sorry to have missed this holiday by only a week! Being a lover of all things literary (and chocolate, if we play the Vantine’s Day Remix…), it would have been a unique way to see the city.
There is also chocolate involved sometimes! Any excuse for more chocolate, right?
It’s a fun way to see the city, but it can be a real nightmare if you’re trying to get anywhere because of the crowds, so I wouldn’t be too sad to have missed it. 🙂
How about this… I’ll take the flowers AND the books. But not the flowers by themselves, they’ll die about a week later. I can keep a book forever though!
Deal! That’s the best part about books. Plus, they’re more fun than flowers.