Sant Jordi day in Cataluyna is a really nice day. Everyone seems in good spirits on Sant Jordi’s day. To me it marks one of the first days of a beautiful Spring in Barcelona. Much better than Valentine’s day because instead of having to splash out on fancy gifts for our love interests, you need only purchase a single rose or a book. A book? I’ll get to that in a minute.

Oh and particularly good because there are about a billion and one Jordi’s here in Catalunya making it an especially good saint’s day to have. Poor me - I have to be St. Esteban - Dec. 27th. That is like having your birthday be on Xmas practically! Bogus!

Here is a brief history that I have stolen from elsewhere on the Net:

Patron Saint of Catalonia, international knight-errant Sant Jordi (translated: George) allegedly slew a dragon about to devour a beautiful princess south of Barcelona. From the dragon’s blood sprouted a rosebush, from which the hero plucked the prettiest for the princess. Hence, the traditional Rose Festival celebrated in Barcelona since the Middle Ages to honor chivalry and romantic love, a day for men and mice alike to give their true loves roses.

And the books? In 1923, the lovers’ fest merged with International Book Day to mark the anniversary of the all but simultaneous April 23, 1616 deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. Quite romantic, if you think about it.

a virtual rose!

Associated with springtime and fertility, Sant Jordi roses include a spike of wheat and a little red and yellow “senyera,” the Catalonian flag.

Anyways, Happy Sant Jordi day to everyone! My boys at work were so sweet to bring me a rose this morning! I took a photo and will put it up later.

La diada de Sant Jordi, Barcelona