Living in a land of fairytales
books, dragons, and roses: the legend of Sant Jordi, a Barcelona story
Feliç Sant Jordi! This week, 23rd of April, we celebrated Catalonia’s version of Valentine’s Day. I never thought I’d write about a Catalan holiday here, but I realized that this holiday is just the sort of thing that Substackians love — it is, after all, the day of books and roses.
Sant Jordi is a day when Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia is in full bloom. Rose decorations are everywhere, and the streets overflow with bookstalls and rose vendors. People walk hand-in-hand, and exchange the flowers and books to say “Te amo.” All around the city, the patisseries get creative and craft special delicacies, often filled with raspberry and mascarpone, as well as fantastic croissants in the shape of dragons.
Sant Jordi is all at once a romantic day, literary holiday, and day of cultural pride. But my favorite part is the legend behind the holiday and how it feels like we’re living in a real life fairytale full of princesses, dragons, and chivalric knights. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to share with you the fantastic little legend of Sant Jordi.
The Legend of Sant Jordi
Long ago, in the ancient town of Montblanc, a dragon lived nearby. The most terrible beast could soar through the waters, sky, and mountains, and it’s hunger knew no bounds. Poisoning the air with its fiery breath, the dragon brought fear and famine to the people.
The villagers were so terrified that they sacrificed their oxen and horses to the dragon, but sadly, it was not enough to satisfy its hunger. Eventually, they had to make a grim bargain: each day, they would offer one of their own in sacrifice, chosen by lottery.
Days passed. Then weeks. Then months. The dragon grew fat on their grief, and the people’s hope dwindled. One morning, fate turned cruel. The name drawn was that of the king’s daughter. Though the king begged for another soul to take her place, the princess was brave and noble. She accepted her fate and walked alone to the dragon’s lair.
But just as the beast approached, wings spread and teeth bared, a knight appeared on horseback, clad in shining armor. His name was Jordi. With courage burning in his chest, he raised his lance and charged. After a fierce battle, Sant Jordi pierced the dragon through the heart. From its blood, a rosebush bloomed, thick with vibrant red roses. The knight plucked the finest one and offered it to the princess: a symbol of life, love, and renewal.
History and Celebration
The legend of Sant Jordi goes back to medieval Europe. Sant Jordi (Saint George) was a Christian Roman soldier martyred around 303 AD for refusing to renounce his faith. Over time, the myth grew and Sant Jordi became patron saint of Catalonia in the 15th century. Diada de Sant Jordi became an important holiday, honoring Catalan identity, language, and literature.
To celebrate the day, men are traditionally gifted books and women receive roses, those it’s all blurred a bit, so now you can get whatever you want. The tradition of giving roses on Sant Jordi in Catalonia has been around for over 500 years, dating back to at least the 15th century at the Fira de Roses (Rose Fair) in 1436. As a symbol of love, admiration, and chivalry, giving roses was originally a celebration related to courtly love. But now roses are exchanged between couples, children and mothers, friends, colleagues, etc. The roses are often given with a dried sprig of wheat as a symbol of prosperity and abundance, as well as a little Catalan flag.
It wasn’t until 1929 that books were added to the equation. The idea of promoting books on April 23rd was proposed by Vicent Clavel Andrés, a Valencian writer and publisher in Barcelona. He suggested a day to honor literature and promote book sales. April 23rd was chosen because it’s the date of both Miguel de Cervantes’s and William Shakespeare’s deaths (in 1616), making it an ideal literary tribute. Now ahead of Sant Jordi, book sales skyrocket and writers line the streets to broadcast and sign their books.
This year, I gave my husband a book by Gabriel García Márquez and my mom bought my son a little Peter Rabbit board book. During our walk around the neighborhood, the boys stopped by a stall and pick up two roses in return. The energy of the city was enchanting as so many stalls popped up along the streets, displaying hand-crafted dragons and playing music while lovers wandered by, holding their gifts.
I love living in a land where fairytales are still a very vibrant part of modern life. Plus, not only are there fun holidays like this in Barcelona, but there are also medieval castles everywhere. I am already daydreaming about taking my children and exploring them while they play as if they are real life princes & princesses slaying dragons. It’s all a reminder of why we moved here, and why we continue to stay.
Sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona, Generalitat de Catalunya, Cover: Saint George Defeating the Dragon by Johann König, c. 1630
Drops of Joy
My mom is in town this week and we are taking a trip to Provence. I’m currently writing in the back of my car with a sleeping baby — having just 3.5 hours left in the ride. So far, so good! I look forward to this next week discovering Provence, it’s beautiful nature, villages, rosé, and artistic history. I’ll hopefully write a separate piece reflecting on the trip, and if I’m lucky, some inspired poetry. Stay tuned!
Since we’ll be on holiday, I’ve taken two weeks off of work and I am sooo happy! It feels so good to have left my computer at home and not have to log into a Google Meet until the first week of May.
I’ve enjoyed sharing more about our life in Barcelona, and oddly enough, it’s been good for my mental health to express gratitude and reflect more on our life here.
I know that my subscribers are mostly here for my reflections on motherhood, so I hope you don’t mind when I pivot. Even more, I hope you enjoy getting these glimpses into our little Spanish life. I did, after all, say that I’d be writing about living under the Spanish sun, ha.
Hoping you all have a lovely weekend,
Grace
Loved this Grace!
I hope your family had a lovely holiday! I love reading these little glimpses of your Spanish life!