At the same time, 23rd april is also world book day, as promoted by unesco since 1995. Sant jordis day is a major catalan holiday that celebrates saint george, who slayed a dragon to save the kings daughter. For sant jordi, catalans go out to the streets and celebrate both the world book day and sant jordi. Sant jordi is considered by the catalans as the most romantic day of the year, a day in which, according to tradition, men give women a rose and women give men a book.
The feast is also an opportunity for readers to meet their writers. Our first sant jordi day in barcelona video gimme some oven. Why is the world book day celebrated on the 23rd of april and what is it. Apr 20, 2020 to follow the sant jordis day celebrations around the world and on social media, visit booksandroses. Join a virtual cultural festival celebrating catalan. In 1995, the unesco approved the world book day and people celebrated it for the first time. The day of sant jordi saint george in catalonia,spain. Apr 19, 2019 sant jordis day falls on april 23, which is also international book day.
Sant jordi festival barcelona catalonia 2020 saint. Apr 21, 2018 its become so important, in fact, that whilst spain and many other countries around the world celebrate saint valentines day on 14th february, in catalonia that date plays very much second fiddle to sant jordi. On the day of sant jordi in barcelona as in all of catalonia people give one another a rose or a book. Make sure to bring your camera and plenty of memory cards. Apr 18, 2017 on 23rd april, barcelona holds a really special celebration to mark the day of sant jordi, or saint george, the patron saint of catalonia. Fortunately, things have changed and today everyone receives their rose and their book.
In catalonia the world book day becomes an especially romantic festivity. The feast of sant jordi is a treat for the eyes with the streets filled with stalls selling beautiful flowers. This celebration in honor of sant jordi goes back centuries. On the scoop we just love sant jordis day, the catalan equivalent to valentines day. Ladies get roses and the fellas get books, but we decided to put a twist on it. As far as spain is concerned, sant jordi is the patron saint of both catalunya and aragon. Our first sant jordi day in barcelona video gimme some. Sant jordi, the day of the book, the rose and of lovers. Everywhere in catalonia is a good place to celebrate sant jordi day. Sant jordi is a very special celebration of catalan culture, but every day is important to reach our goal of independence. On 23rd april, barcelona holds a really special celebration to mark the day of sant jordi, or saint george, the patron saint of catalonia.
Among roses, many piles of books are for sale in catalan streets 1. Sant jordi is held on the same date as world book day, set by unesco in 1995, which is also the same day that the deaths of cervantes and shakespeare are commemorated. However, catalans have been commemorating cervantes on the 23rd of april since the 1920s. Sant jordi, or saint georges day is much more than a simple feast day in barcelona.
It is one of the most original celebrations in catalonia and takes place in spring, on 23 april. Jordis day celebration will take place on july 23, 2020, after stayathome orders are removed. Many years later, in 1995, unescos general assembly declared april 23 rd as the world book day, because it also happens to be the day when william shakespeare died. April 23rd is when catalonia celebrates its version of valentines day in honor of saint george. Travel virtually to spains catalunya region for sant.
Strolling amongst the book stalls and the tradition of giving roses just adds to the day. Sant jordi 2020 barcelona website barcelona city council. The idea for celebrating this day originated in spain where on 23 april is st georges day sant jordi or khdus giyorgis, the patron saint of catalonia. Travel virtually to spains catalunya region for sant jordis. Sant jordi is the day when the bookshops and the authors of the region expect to make a killing.
Well, sant jordi coincides with the world book day. Saint george, the patron saint of the former crown of aragon, stabbed. Sant jordi day anderson language and technology center. Georges day presented in the book, 5 may on the western gregorian calendar, is st. All of this has to do with the legend of saint george, which becomes jorge in spanish and jordi in catalan. Monday 23rd april around andorra see below for more info about the festival encamp. Sant jordi and the day of the book cultural heritage. The people in catalonia celebrate the day of their patron saint, sant jordi, with a curious tradition. Sant jordi in barcelona, the catalan saint valentines day. This is why the streets are filled with books, roses, culture and love. Apr 16, 2019 the best places to celebrate sant jordi day. On the other hand, on april 23, you had better remember to buy a flower for your sweetheart. Originated from the medieval times, sant jordi day is a catalan holiday also known as books and roses exchange day.
The main event is the exchange of roses and books between sweethearts, loved ones and colleagues. The sant jordi day is celebrated on 23rd april, which is the date in the year 303 on which saint george of cappadocia died. Barcelonas day of love and roses sant jordis day the spain. As sant jordi, otherwise known as saint george, is one of the patron saints of catalonia, it is considered a very important day in our country and holds romantic significance similar to that of valentines day. This is lovers day here in catalunya and on this day the ladies receive a rose while the fellas receive a book. Apr 23, 2020 sant jordi s day revolves around the tradition of loved ones exchanging a book for a rose, and following the postponement of the celebration, the book sector pointed out that while bookstores may be closed on thursday, books can be purchased online. Documents show that the tradition of giving away roses as a symbol of love on the day of sant jordi, dates back to the 15th century, even though the exact date is not known. For catalans, a day of books, roses and, of course, politics. Every april 23rd, the streets of my city, barcelona, fill with red roses and book stands, for a celebration steeped in history. Today, sant jordi is a day of love and literature, comparable to valentines day. For sant jordi, its a tradition to give each other books and roses, symbols of culture and love.
The main meeting point in barcelona is the rambla, which is packed from end to end with book and flower stalls. World book day became an internationally recognized day just a few decades ago william shakespeare also died on this same day in 1616. It aims to promote reading, encourage everyone to read, defend and protect the publishing industry and s. Take a stroll, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the day catalanstyle. It is a very popular festival that combines culture and romanticism, celebrating both world book day and valentines day. A day which is marked with a bank holiday in the region. On this day, it is custom for couples to exchange gifts. Its become so important, in fact, that whilst spain and many other countries around the world celebrate saint valentines day on 14th february, in catalonia that date plays very much second fiddle to sant jordi. Sant jordi the day of the book and the rose all andorra.
One notable celebration is in the valencian city of alcoi. Sant jordi is held on the same date as world book day, set by unesco in 1995, which is also the same day that the deaths of cervantes and shakespeare are. Sant jordi in english, saint george is the patron saint of catalonia, aragon and the balearic islands. In the 1920s, the catalan booksellers association imagined women could respond with the gift of a book and the sant jordi book festival was launched. Georges day as observed by the eastern orthodox churches of that era. The consolidation of sant jordi as the festa del llibre, internationally as well, comes with the proclamation by unesco of 23rd april as world book and the rights of the author day. Sant jordis day in barcelona international book day and. This is why many balconies in the city are decorated with the senyera, the catalan flag, as they are on other key national dates. Go to any town centre to enjoy fairs with books, roses and all kinds of roseshaped handmade decorations and treats.
Apr 26, 2018 sant jordi is a very special celebration of catalan culture, but every day is important to reach our goal of independence. For sant jordi, draw the cover of your favourite book. Jordi is catalunyas version of valentines day and is a one day festival of romance, roses and books all inspired by the legend of saint george on 23rd april every year. In catalonia, the 23 rd of april coincides with being the day of sant jordi, which is the day of the book, the rose and of lovers. Region for sant jordis holiday and threeday world book festival. Are you doing arts and crafts so you can have some roses. Here are some of my personal recommendations if you want to make the most of the festivities. It is also called the feast or the festival of st george.
Furthermore, why this day is the day of lovers and sant jordi has become the patron saint of lovers is not known with certainty. In catalonia the world book day becomes an especially. Jordi the patron of the catalans people with the world book day. The whole city is transformed and gives it all to book. For more information about catalonia and its cultural offerings, visit. Sant jordi festival barcelona catalonia 2020 saint georges. Apr 25, 2018 for one magical day in april, the streets of barcelona are lined with book sellers and flower stands selling roses. Stroll through the endless stalls selling roses and books. Families, what book are you finding the most helpful during the lockdown.
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