How do other people celebrate St George?

Catalunya: Angel Mesado Jordi, Deputy Spokesman for the Catalunya Government in London told us:

St George’s Day in Catalunya

  • The cult of St George in Catalunya developed from 8th c but only became patron saint in 1465. Thought that this was copying England’s adoption of St George as patron -this was fashionable at the time.
  • Tradition of the rose: dates from 15th c with a fair for roses and flowers. Ladies were offered a rose in a chivalric manner.
  • Books introduced to tradition in 1926 to complement roses -publishing is a major industry in Calalunya and Barcelona. Spain also noted that Shakespeare and Cervantes both born 23 April, both died in 1616
  • Women are now offered books; increasingly men offered roses too.
  • 1995 – Unesco declared 23 April International Day of the Book and Copyright
  • 1999 – became Official Day and events and activities organised.
  • Institutions: 23 April like National Day. 20% book sales (1/2M books sold then); 4M roses sold.
  • The Parliament Building (a 15th c palace) is open specially to the public and there is a Mass held in the St George’s chapel -only time in the year.
  • Popular Devotion: schools, families, celebrate; big TV screens in the streets/squares; stalls on La Ramblas selling roses and books.However, it is a working day so there is plenty of energy /buzz to buy books/roses etc
  • Business: a majority of new Spanish language books are launched on 23 April. Many signings and opportunities to meet authors. (Kindle has not yet taken off).
  • Valentine’s day celebrated on 23 April.
  • No special food or drink for this day.
  • No churches of St George in Barcelona.
  • Medieval town of Montblanc in Catalunya has a medieval market and St George Festival each year.