On 23rd April, everyone in Cataluña will be gifting roses and books to their loved ones, in honour of San Jordi.
The streets in the Cataluña region in the north of Spain will be filled with stands selling roses, books and a long itinerary of events celebrating culture, musical talent and the arts. Legend says Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Cataluña, was a knight who killed a dragon to save a princess- and from the dragon’s blood grew a rose. You may already know this story in another form: Saint George is Sant Jordi in Catalan.
The tradition of gifting books started in later years. In the early 20th century, World Book Day began to be celebrated in Spain. The day, which is dedicated to literature, books and authors rights, was declared on the 23rd April by UNESCO.
It also coincides with the death of some of our most celebrated authors: Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespear and Garcilaso de la Vega. Since then it merged with the tradition of San Jordi. It became tradition for men to gift the woman they love a rose, symbolising love and women would give men books, symbolising culture and intelligence. Although, nowadays, it is typical for both to exchange freely.
The festival is most famous in Barcelona, where streets are crowded with book stalls, flower vendors, laughter and colour. Authors attend public signings, meeting readers and dedicating books.
Sant Jordi celebrates language, literature, love and cultural pride. Catalan flags often appear alongside roses, reinforcing the connection between tradition and regional identity. Schools, libraries, and institutions also participate, encouraging reading and cultural engagement among all ages.
We chatted about Sant Jordi and World Book Day on our recent episode:
