Book Day and Sant Jordi Day, books and roses on the Ramblas Next April 23rd, one of our favorite events will be celebrated, Book Day 😍. Today we are going to tell you everything about this celebration. In addition, we are also going to talk to you about the Day of
The next April 23 one of our favorite events is celebrated, Book Day 😍.
Today we are going to tell you everything about this celebration.
In addition, we are also going to talk to you about the Sant Jordi's Day, a festival that is celebrated in Catalonia the same day and that is linked to Book Day.
The structure of the article will be as follows:
Do you want to immerse yourself fully in this such a special day for reading and the culture? Yeah?
So… join us!
The International Book Day is celebrated on April 23 every year in many countries on the planet.
It is celebrated on this day because it is the date on which three of the most important writers in universal literature: Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Garcilaso de la Vega.
Miguel de Cervantes, author of the most famous Spanish novel in the world, Don Quixote of La Mancha, died on April 22, 1616.
William Shakespeare, the famous English creator of iconic works such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth, He died on exactly the same day in the same year as Cervantes.
What an incredible coincidence! TRUE?
The third great writer to be commemorated is Garcilaso de la Vega, the Spanish poet and soldier, who died on April 23 but in 1536.
The celebration of Book Day was born in Catalonia in 1920. It was a proposal from various writers, among whom was the Valencian Vicente Clavel.
The idea of this celebration, in addition to honoring the three great authors mentioned above, was encourage reading and love of books.
The proposal was well received, although It took 6 years to become public.
In 1926 the first Book Day in Barcelona and it was a complete success.
As the years go by, the festival spread to other countries until it became an important date for the publishing industry and for reading lovers globally.
Didn't you know that World Book Day was born in Spain? You will never go to bed without knowing one more thing 😉.
When is Book Day, in many cities and towns in Spain they organize book fairs.
At these fairs there are editors, bookstores and writers who set up stalls with books to the public.
This way people can browse the new editorials on display and buy new books to add to their libraries.
These fairs are very beautiful for several reasons:
For reading lovers, the simple act of walking among so many book stalls decorated with Book Day posters is already a joy.
It creates a serene and intellectual environment which is really wonderful.
Furthermore, another of the great advantages of the Book Fair is that a wide variety of books at reduced prices.
If you feel like buying several books, but never find the time, take advantage of this moment to enjoy the Book Day discounts.
Another of the attractions of these fairs is that they usually take place various activities related to literature. Some of the most popular Book Day activities are:
In many libraries and schools Similar activities are also carried out with the aim of encouraging people to read more. Don't you think it's a beautiful initiative? 👏🏻
In recent years, social networks They have also become a platform to celebrate the Book Day in Spain.
Virtual activities are organized such as book clubs, talks with authors and shared readings.
Are you in Valencia and you want to know where the Book Fair will be held?
This year 2023, as usual, it will be done in the Royal Gardens from the April 27 until the May 7.
The Sant Jordi's day, Saint George in Spanish, is one of the most beautiful and beloved festivals by all Catalans.
The festival of Sant Jordi, or festival of Saint George, is the name given to the Valentine's Day in Catalonia, which also coincides with the Book Day in Catalonia.
What is given as a gift on Sant Jordi? The gifts that people give each other are a rose with a book.
That is why it is known as the day of the rose and the book in Catalonia. Although this festival is only celebrated in this community, we think it is a beautiful celebration and that has a fascinating origin.
Do you want to know the history of Saint George and what this festival consists of? If so, keep reading!
The answer to the question of when is the Sant Jordi's Day is April 23, the same day as that of book day.
At first, the festival of Saint George and Book Day They were different things in Catalonia.
The first commemorates the legend of Sant Jordi, and it is Valentine's Day throughout the community of Catalonia. It has been celebrated for centuries.
The celebration of both festivals on the same day is done since 1920, when the creation of Book Day was proposed.
The proposal was received with enthusiasm in Catalonia. Since then, Sant Jordi's Day has been celebrated together with Book Day, thus creating a festival that combines the love of literature with the love between couples.
As a sign of these two loves, on St. George's Book Day, couples and familiesthey give each other a rose and a book.
The tradition of give a rose on April 23 Saint George in Catalonia was created in the 15th century, when Sant Jordi Day became the pattern of Catalonia.
Why are they given as gifts? roses and books on this day?
We books are clear, it is Book Day.
But... what about the roses?
This has to do with the history of Sant Jordi. According to legend, Sant Jordi was a knight who killed a dragon to save a princess.
From the blood of the dragon was born a rose that Sant Jordi gave to the princess as symbol of your love.
Today, the rose symbolizes love and passion towards the loved one 💞.
While exchanging books represents courage and wisdom 🧠.
If you are in Barcelona in the St. George's Day, you will see how almost each person goes with their book and rose in their hands and a smile from ear to ear because they want to give them to their partner.
The Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, the most luxurious avenue in the city, is filled with book and rose stalls. All the people take to the streets, it is already spring and the city acquires a wonderful vitality.
Also the Ramblas of Barcelona, the famous street that goes to the port, takes on a fantastic atmosphere decorated with flowers and book stalls.
On Saint George's Day in Barcelona there are activities related to books, such as authors participating in book signings or public readings in bookstores and cultural spaces.
Now you know that April 23 is important because Book Day is celebrated with roses in Catalonia. Write down a new appointment in your diary on St. George's Day, April 23.
In this section we are going to delve in more detail into who is Saint George and what its legend means, which seems straight out of a fairy tale.
The legend of Sant Jordi arose in the 13th century. This legend takes place in the town of Montblanc, in the province of Tarragona.
In history it is said that this town was being terrorized by a fierce dragon who lived in a nearby cave. The dragon attacked the town regularly, devouring the animals and the local inhabitants.
To calm the dragon, the townspeople began offering human sacrifices to it, choosing one person at random each year.
One day, the princess of Montblanc She had the misfortune of being chosen to be sacrificed. Sant Jordi, a knight who was passing through the town, offered to fight the dragon in exchange for the princess liberation and of the end of human sacrifices.
The inhabitants of the town accepted the offer and Sant Jordi left for the dragon's cave.
When he arrived at the cave, Sant Jordi met the fearsome dragon. Both had a tough fight and Sant Jordi managed hurt the dragon with his sword.
At that moment, the princess appeared and He gave Sant Jordi a cross, which he placed on the sword. with the cross, Sant Jordi managed to kill the dragon and free the people from their terror.
From the dragon's blood a rose bush sprouted, from which Sant Jordi plucked a rose and gave it to the princess.
This is where the origin of the rose comes from as a gift to the person you love the most.
Traditionally, it was men who gave roses to women, and women gave books to men. Luckily, this has been changing and not only men receive the book.
When it is St. George's Day, many people put up a spike on the rose What are they going to give away?
A spike is a kind of wheat stalk with a golden flower at the top
Why is this put on the Sant Jordi rose?
For many it is a characteristic decoration of this celebration that symbolizes the fertility and prosperity.
There are also those who say that the spike represents the dragon figure, in allusion to the legend of Saint George.
By the way, there is a curious thing and that is that there is a plant that refers to the legend of Sant Jordi and has the same name.
This plant, also known as Sword of Saint George or Sansevieria, is a plant that comes from Africa.
It has long, rigid, fleshy leaves that grow vertically, in the shape of a sword or spear, and can reach a height of up to one meter.
It's very pretty!
April 23 Book Day is also the day of the two most spoken languages in the world: Spanish and English.
At the beginning of the article, we said that World Book Day commemorates the death of Miguel de Cervantes and Garcilaso de la Vega.
They are two of the most important writers that Spain has had in its entire history.
In 2010, the Cervantes Institute proposed that on this day, in addition to Book Day, the Spanish Language Day throughout the country.
How is it celebrated?
In many schools, universities, museums or libraries activities are carried out to promote and spread the use of the Spanish language as common cultural heritage and promote dialogue between cultures that share this language.
We remember that April 23 is also the date he died William Shakespeare. In addition, the feast of Saint George is celebrated in England, who is the patron saint of this country, as in Catalonia.
For all this, the English also celebrate it as the English Language Day.
The English praise their language with pride on this day for being the hegemonic language in culture, business and communication between countries.
Various activities are also carried out such as exhibitions, talks, workshops, among others.
Therefore, you see how April 23 is a very symbolic day in which many things are celebrated.
If you are going to be around Valencia this day, we remind you that the main event takes place in the Jardines del Real with a large number of book stalls and activities related to Book Day.
And you know what? Right in front of this park is our school: Hispania, Spanish school, the best Spanish school in the world!
And it's not us who say it, but the multitude of institutions that have given us this recognition for years.
Below, we propose the perfect plan to enjoy Book Day in Valencia 😁:
You attend our morning sessions face-to-face Spanish courses or our online Spanish courses.
When you finish, you take a walk around the Book Fair which is less than 5 minutes walk.
When you get hungry, go to the beach and eat a delicious paellita in front of the sea.
Sounds good, right? 😉.
Well, that's all, we hope you liked today's article, that you learned a lot about Book Day and about the day of the rose and the book in Sant Jordi.
What do you think of the idea of giving a rose and a book when Saint George is celebrated?
Do you already know what work you are going to read during book week?
Write your comment and we'll talk 😊.
Happy Book Day!
Article written by Carlos Martinez forHispania, Spanish school.
More articles