St George in Barcelona: The World Book & Rose Day

Barcelona celebrates St George

Sant Jordi (St George) on the 23rd of April is the most romantic day of the Catalan calendar. In Barcelona, the main streets and squares are full of rose sellers and bookstalls, and traditionally the men give the women a rose and the women present the men with a book.

As legend goes, the patron saint of Catalonia killed a dragon to save a princess. He presented her with the red roses that grew from its blood. The day is also dedicated to books in honour of William Shakespeare and Miguel Cervantes who died on April 23rd 1616.

It is a day of Catalan pride. Sant Jordi cakes are iced in the colours of the Catalan flag and roses are bound with yellow and red striped ribbon.

Discover the Legend of Sant Jordi

Six million of roses for St George’s Day

St George's Day in Barcelona

The legend of Saint George was written in the 18th century by Jacopo della Voragine in his celebrated work, “The Golden Legend“. Centuries ago, in the medieval period, the catalan nobility organized jousting tournaments in the Born neighbourhood, in the centre of the Catalan capital. During these contests, young ladies were presented wit gifts of roses and other flowers. This year six million roses are expected to be sold throughout Catalonia on St George’s Day, which would mean a 10% increase compared to last year.

The sales forecast, despite the current economic crisis, is based on the fact that the big day will be on Friday and that a bigger demand has come from businesses in several sectors, such as restaurants, old people’s homes and airlines.

At present, 83% of the roses marketed in Mercabarna-flor come from other countries, chiefly from Holland, Colombia and Ecuador, while 10% are from Maresme and the rest from Alicante and the Canary Isles.

This year, the city’s wholesale market is offering personalised roses for each month of the year. That means roses and cereal ears will be arranged with materials, colours and textures specific to each month.

Read the full history of Sant Jordi (St George’s Day)