A ROSE AND A GOOD BOOK

April 23 is a very special day. And it is not only International Book Day, but also the day of Sant Jordi, patron of Catalonia. The first year I lived in Catalonia I was not aware of what this holiday represents here and it is, so to speak, like Catalan Valentine's Day. I am usually quite cold about all the holidays in which we are forced to consume and give gifts, like Christmas or Valentine's Day, but it is true that Sant Jordi has its charm because the gift you’re supposed to give is a rose and a book. Traditionally, a rose was given to women and a book to men, but thank God that has stopped and now the usual is to give both things.

photography - Dario Fernandez Ruz

The legend of Sant Jordi dates back to the Middle Ages and tells the story of a dragon that frightened the inhabitants of Montblanc, a small village in Catalonia. The dragon wreaked havoc between the population and as if that were not enough, it ate their animals (not cool). To keep the dragon happy and have a little peace, the inhabitants decided to sacrifice a random person every day and offer it to him. But one day, when the dragon was going to devour a girl, (who was also the king's daughter), a knight, Sant Jordi, appeared and stabbed it with his spear and a rosebush of red roses emerged from the dragon's blood. And from that, the tradition of giving a red rose to a person you love was born.

In Barcelona, the streets of the center are closed to traffic and throughout the city there are book and rose stalls, shows of all kinds, free concerts and buildings decorated for the occasion. A classic on Passeig de Gràcia is La Casa Batlló, which has the tradition of filling the façade's balconies with red roses every year. In addition, the Verdi cinemas host the Barcelona International Sant Jordi Film Festival, which this year lasts from April 18 to 26. The 23rd is also an open day in many buildings in the city that are not usually open or that cannot even be visited, such as the Palau Güell, the Museum of History of Catalonia, the town hall or the Palau de la Generalitat, although Be careful if you are interested, normally you have to make an advance reservation.

Casa Batlló with Sant Jordi roses - Dario Fernandez Ruz

If you like concerts, as I mentioned before, Lucky you! I like to go to the Antigua Fábrica de Estrella Damm, a classic of free concerts in Barcelona with food trucks and a really nice atmosphere (although perhaps too many people). In Sant Jordi admission is free and there are concerts from 12:00 to 20:00 (you also have to get reservation tickets). You can look at the poster along with all the cultural offerings and book for the open days that I told you about on the Barcelona City Council website.

So now you know, celebrate this international book (and dragon-slaying) day by giving the people you love a rose and a good book.