What is Sant Jordi?
Sant Jordi (Saint George) is the patron saint of Catalonia, and his feast day on 23 April is a celebration of love, books and Catalan culture. It isn't a public holiday: people go to work and school as normal. But the whole day turns into a street festival, and every town square fills with stalls selling roses and books.
The custom is simple: you give a rose and a book to the people you love. Traditionally men gave roses and women gave books. Today everyone gives both, to partners, friends, parents, colleagues and teachers.
The legend of the dragon
The Catalan version of the legend is set in Montblanc. A dragon was terrorising the town and demanding a victim every day, until the lot fell to the princess. Just as the dragon was about to devour her, a knight, Sant Jordi, appeared and killed it with his lance. From the dragon's blood grew a rose bush, and the knight picked a red rose for the princess. That's why the rose is the symbol of the day.
Why books?
The rose tradition goes back to the Middle Ages. The book was added in the 20th century, when Catalan booksellers began celebrating a Day of the Book on 23 April. The date is linked to the deaths of Cervantes and Shakespeare in 1616. The Catalan custom later helped inspire UNESCO's World Book and Copyright Day, also on 23 April. For an Instituto Cervantes accredited school like ours, that's a nice coincidence.
Sant Jordi in Girona
- The stalls (parades). Booksellers and florists set up along the Rambla de la Llibertat and in the squares of the old town and the city centre. Schools, associations and charities sell roses too, often for a good cause.
- Book signings. Writers sit at the bookshop stalls all day to sign their latest books. It's the biggest day of the year for Catalan publishing.
- The rose. A Sant Jordi rose usually comes wrapped with an ear of wheat (espiga) and a ribbon in the colours of the Catalan flag, the senyera.
- Dragons everywhere. Shops sell dragon-shaped pastries, bakeries make Sant Jordi bread with the colours of the senyera, and children dress up as knights, princesses and dragons.
Tips for visitors
- Go out at midday or after work. The streets are busiest at lunchtime and from about 17:00, when the atmosphere is at its best.
- Buy your rose from a school or charity stall. The money goes to a good cause, and you'll get a smile.
- Buy a book in Catalan, even a children's book or a comic. It's the perfect souvenir for a language learner.
- Remember it's a working day. Museums and shops are open as usual, but restaurants fill up at lunchtime.
Spend Sant Jordi learning Catalan
Our Sant Jordi festival week follows the Girona Essentials format: Catalan class every morning and afternoons out in the city. On the day itself, you'll choose your own book in Catalan, ask an author to sign it, and give a rose, all in Catalan. Small groups, max. 8.
Catalan words for Sant Jordi
- Bon Sant Jordi! or Bona diada!: Happy Sant Jordi!
- la rosa: the rose. el llibre: the book. la parada: the stall.
- el drac: the dragon. la princesa: the princess. el cavaller: the knight.
- Quant val la rosa?: How much is the rose?
- Me'l pot signar, si us plau?: Could you sign it for me, please?
- És per a tu!: It's for you!
Spring in Girona
Sant Jordi opens Girona's best season. A few weeks later comes Temps de Flors, when the old town fills with flowers. See our 15 best things to do in Girona to plan the rest of your stay. In autumn, the city celebrates its patron saint at the Fires de Sant Narcís.