>   Read about Sant Jordi's day Barcelona

"La Diada de Sant Jordi" is on 23rd April every year. St Jordi day is Saint George's Day in Barcelona and Catalunya and a beautiful day full of romance, roses and books. It's the most romantic day of the year in Barcelona. Here is a virtual rose for you! @->->--



Sant Jordi is also known as "El Día de los Amantes,"  which means Lover's day. St. Jordi is the patron saint of Catalonia and Saint George's day is celebrated on 23rd April to commerate his death on that date in the year 303. In Catalonia this celebration has taken inspiration from the legend of St. George and the dragon and it has become the most romantic day of the year in Barcelona. The 23 April is not a public holiday, so shops are open and people are at work, but it's a special day and everyone can find a few minutes to be romantic on a spring day. All over Barcelona and especially on the famous walking street La Rambla in Barcelona you can find rose stalls and book stalls. The Sant Jordi tradition is that the men give the ladies a long stemmed rose and that ladies give the men a book in tribute to Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish novelist, who also died on 23 April day in 1616.

Be prepared for high rose prices on St. George's day ranging from 3 to over 10 euros for a single long stemmed rose. In recent years other colours of roses have appeared too. A yellow rose symbolises friendship. A white rose means innocence. An orange rose symbolises passion and desire and a Pink rose means happiness, but Red is still the most common rose to give. Red with white roses signify togetherness, a single rose means simplicity and bright red roses stand for beauty within. About 6 million roses are sold on Sant Jordi with 20% from Catalunya and 80% imported. A Sant Jordi tradition in Barcelona is to take a stroll on the famous La Rambla street where you will find many books stalls and flower stands selling roses. Also be sure to visit Barcelona pastry shops for special St. Jordi's day pastries.

Roses for the ladies and books for the men. Las Ramblas becomes a huge book market.

and on Rambla de Catalunya. Mostly the girls buying books.






There are many book signings and book launches on Sant Jordi



Good day for book sales. Won't be the same when we all have kindles!


Everyone gets involved and many roses are sold to support charities