Барселона
Испания
Every year on April 23 Barcelonacelebrates St. George’s Day (La Diada de Sant Jordi) – the Catalan version of Everyone’s Day lovers.
This holiday was first celebrated in Barcelona in 1923. Then enterprising book publishers noticed that April 23 is the day of remembrance of two famous world writers: the Spaniard Miguel de Cervantes and the Englishman William Shakespeare, who died on the same day. That’s why they suggested celebrating this day as a day of gifts and love, when everyone gives each other books and flowers.
Also, according to another version, the holiday of Sant Jordi is associated with the legend according to which the knight George, having killed the dragon, saved the beautiful princess and gave her a red rose, which became one of the symbols of this holiday.
On this day, Catalans exchange gifts (girls are given roses, and boys are given books), the central streets and squares of the city turn into one continuous store of books and flowers.
Also on this day they organize a “battle with the dragon”. In the square in front of Barcelona Cathedral in The Gothic Quarter During the day, “dragons” begin to gather, with which everyone can take a photo. And when night comes, the dragons light fireworks and firecrackers and shower those passing by with fire. But Saint George will defeat them all!
