Sant Jordi Day
Sant Jordi Day in Barcelona
The rose we offer you at our hotel is the main symbol of one of Catalonia’s most special and best-loved celebrations: the day of Sant Jordi (Saint George), the patron saint of Catalonia.
La Diada, which we celebrate on 23 April, turns the streets of Barcelona into a huge open-air bookshop and flower shop, packed with people strolling around buying books and roses to give as gifts. Although traditionally it was couples who exchanged gifts, nowadays the custom is much broader and anyone, including children, gives roses and books to friends and loved ones or to people they want to thank.
But where does this tradition come from? The day combines two important dates: the feast of Sant Jordi, patron saint of Catalonia, and World Book Day.
The Catalan Valentine’s Day
As well as being the patron saint of Catalonia and a symbol of its identity, Sant Jordi is to Catalans what Saint Valentine is to the rest of the world. Legend has it that he was a brave knight who saved the town of Montblanc from an evil dragon that was terrorising everyone. To calm its fury, the townspeople had decided to sacrifice one person every day, chosen by lot, and offer them to the dragon as a gesture of goodwill.
One day it was the King’s daughter’s turn to be offered to the dragon. But the fortunate princess was saved by Sant Jordi, who happened to be passing by on his white horse and slew the dragon with his lance. From the dragon’s spilt blood sprang a beautiful bush of red roses, which today are given as a token of love and esteem.
World Book Day
The celebration of Book Day dates back to the early 20th century, to commemorate the birth of Miguel de Cervantes. In 1930, 23 April was finally chosen as the date, in memory of the day Cervantes was buried and because it is also the date of the death of another of history’s greatest writers: William Shakespeare. Later, in 1995, UNESCO declared 23 April World Book Day, although Catalans had already been celebrating it for a century.
To mark the occasion, bookshops take to the streets to sell their books and the best-known authors come out to sign their works.
What to do on Sant Jordi
Sant Jordi is a day simply to stroll through the city centre and soak up the atmosphere, buy a rose for your loved ones and pick up a book, as they are sold with a 10% discount on this day. Our hotel enjoys a truly privileged location from which to enjoy the celebrations.
If you would like to know more about the activities on offer, you can visit the Barcelona City Council website.
We also recommend visiting Casa Batlló, whose design was inspired by Sant Jordi’s dragon and whose façade is decked out with roses for the day. You will find all the information here.