April 23rd is La Diada de Sant Jordi, also known as St. George's Day. St. George is the patron saint of Catalonia. His day is celebrated on April 23rd and this has been Catalonia’s own Valentine’s Day since the Middle Ages.
That was when St. George slew the dragon, saved the princess and plucked a rose from a rose bush that had conveniently sprouted up from the dragons red blood, so that George could gallantly give his true love a red red rose.
Is it a true story? Of course it is! Well, it’s a true fairytale at any rate and a wonderful one at that!
What’s also wonderful is that for one day we can bend the modern rules of political correctness and equal rights and just enjoy the fairytale of knights in shining armour on white horses slaying dragons with bad breath to save beautiful princesses in a whirlwind of chivalry, honour, romance, heroism, swordplay - and of course all in the name of true love.
"Once upon a time, a terrible dragon terrorised the inhabitants of a small village in Catalonia called Montblanc. The dragon wrecked havoc among the population and devoured the animals put out to pasture until there were none left. To calm the dragon's anger, the inhabitants of the village decided to sacrifice one person every day, chosen by drawing lots, and to offer that person to the dragon as a sign of their good will.
"However, one, dark day, the person chosen to be sacrificed was the king's daughter. Just when she was about to be swallowed up by the dragon, a courageous knight appeared and confronted the evil beast. This was Saint George (Sant Jordi in Catalan). He thrust his lance into the dragon and, out of the blood that spurted forth, there grew a red rose bush. Since then, it has been the custom in Catalonia to present a rose to your loved one.
Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia, as well as England and other countries, became the symbol of Catalonia during the Renaixença, a nineteenth century political and cultural movement that sought to reclaim the symbols of Catalan identity."
The other more likely “true” story is that George was a Roman soldier who lived in the 4th century. He was canonized after becoming a martyr for having Christian beliefs.
He went on to become a star among saints and is the patron saint of England, Greece, and Romania to mention just a few.
Whatever the story, the tradition today in Catalonia is that 23rd April is dedicated to romance and for one day the men get to be knights again. Nowadays the men can forego the dragon slaying bit and just go straight to the rose giving part.
Bad news if your mother-in-law is a dragon, but on Sant Jordi’s day on 23rd April, she too deserves a long stemmed red rose decorated with a sprig of wheat and a little red and yellow "senyera", the symbol of four red stripes on a golden background, which is the Catalonian flag along with the message “t'estimo" which means “I love you” in Catalan.
Every female should get a rose on Sant Jordi’s day and it has become a custom to also give roses at work and to friends, even if the prices are several hundred percent above normal.
In 1923 someone (Mr Harper Collins?) had the thoroughly modern idea that the guys should get something too. Why not a book? Not perhaps the first choice had the guys been asked, but nevertheless better than nothing.
And so the tradition of rose giving was expanded to include the guys being given a book from their true love.
Not sure how that fits in with the original fairytale? Did the Princess give George a DIY book? More like a shopping list for the makeover she had in mind for the castle, but anyway, it’s a great idea and good news for the guys.
It also fits nicely with the celebration of the World Book Day which falls on the same day as Sant Jordi’s day on 23rd April.
This day is the anniversary of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes’ death.
They both died on the same day, namely 23rd April in 1616, although in actual fact Cervantes' death was 10 days earlier because Spain was using the Gregarian calendar at the time, while England used the Julian calendar, and the two calendars are slightly different.
Sant Jordi's day is not an official public holiday in Catalonia, but everyone gets to slack off a bit on this dreamy spring day when almost 5 million roses will exchange hands and mucho kissing will take place. Aww..sweet!
What will be going on in Barcelona on St Georges's day? Well, it is traditional to walk down La Rambla if you live in the centre of Barcelona. But don't worry if you are not in the city centre.
There will be flower salesmen growing all over the city, especially at the Metro stations, so guys, don’t even think about trying to say you couldn’t find a rose seller, or that the roses were all gone! You will be slain, not the dragon!
Many of the stalls support charities which is something to consider when forking over the quite steep average price of 5 euros per rose. (2008 prices)
Along the major streets of Barcelona you will also find book stands and in the centre some will feature book readings and book signings by famous Spanish and Catalan authors.
St. Jordi's is really a nice day and if you are in Barcelona - enjoy!
The façade of Gaudi’s Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gracia 43. Some say that this is based on the theme on Sant Jordi with the cross of the saint spearing in the scaly roof, which symbolizes the dragon. If you can see that they you will also see the logic in the bones of the dragon's victims framing the windows of the Caca Batllo’s facade.
The other more likely “true” story is that George was a Roman soldier who lived in the 4th century. He was canonized after becoming a martyr for having Christian beliefs. 
And so the tradition of rose giving was expanded to include the guys being given a book from their true love. 
