Sant Jordi: a rose and a book every April 23

The legend: the dragon and the rosebush

According to the legend, a dragon was terrorizing a town (in the Catalan version, Montblanc) and demanded victims chosen by lot. When the princess’s turn came, the knight Sant Jordi (Saint George) appeared and defeated the dragon.

From the dragon’s blood sprang a bush of red roses. Sant Jordi cut the most beautiful one and gave it to the princess. That is where the custom of giving a rose every April 23 comes from.

And why a book?

The book was added in the 20th century. April 23 is the date on which Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died, and in 1930 Spain’s book festival was set on that day. Later UNESCO declared it World Book Day.

Since the two celebrations fell on the same day, in Catalonia they merged: a rose and a book.

What the Sant Jordi rose looks like

The Sant Jordi rose is usually sold on its own, with a sprig of wheat and a ribbon in the colors of the senyera, the Catalan flag. Barcelona’s streets fill with stalls run by florists, bookshops, schools and associations.

Sant Jordi isn’t a public holiday in Catalonia: it is celebrated on a normal working and school day, which makes the streets even busier.

Who gives what to whom?

Tradition used to say a rose for her and a book for him. Today either one is given to anyone you like: partners, friends, family or classmates. Many people also buy themselves a book.

If you don’t live in Catalonia, giving a rose and a book on April 23 works anywhere: it’s World Book Day all over the world.

What April 23 is like

Sant Jordi isn’t a public holiday, but it is probably the most beautiful day of the year in Barcelona. From early morning, Passeig de Gràcia, the Rambla and the squares of every neighborhood fill with rose stalls and bookshops that bring their tables out onto the street. Authors sign copies all day long and the queues for a dedication are part of the tradition.

Many rose stalls are run by schools, scout groups and associations raising funds for their activities, so buying your rose there is also a way of helping out. Several million roses are sold across Catalonia that day, and a good share comes from greenhouses in Colombia, Ecuador and Kenya, because local production can’t keep up with so much demand.

Tips for buying the rose

• Buy in the morning: by the afternoon there are fewer roses and the best ones are gone.
• Check the bud: firm, half-closed and with no wilted outer petals.
• Put it in water straight away: trim 2 cm at an angle when you get home. Well cared for, it lasts a week.
• If you don’t live in Catalonia, a red rose and a book on April 23 work just as well: it’s World Book Day all over the world. There are more ideas on the April page.

Frequently asked questions