La Diada de Sant Jordi

The kids left us a week ago, and I reckon that it's taken us that long to recover. The good news is that they had a great time, and there was even talk, (between them during the last meal with us), of quitting school in Berlin and coming to live with us in Barcelona. Hmmm... perhaps they should ask us how we truly feel about that idea. Phrases spring to mind that include words such as dead, body, over and my, with some additional curses for embellishment and emphasis.

Catalunya celebrated La Diada de Sant Jordi on April 23rd which is known as St. George's Day in England, and celebrated in about 20 countries and cities - mostly in Europe and the fringes of the Mediterranean.

Sant Jordi is the patron saint of Catalunya and, in the region, the day is celebrated in much the same way as St. Valentine's Day is celebrated elsewhere. Barcelona lovers are out in force, and it's a given that every opportunity for a lingering kiss must be taken.

Legend has it that in the spot where St. George slew a dragon just south of Barcelona, a rosebush grew from the blood of the beast. He picked the prettiest rose to give to the princess he had just rescued. This tradition carried on, and each Diada de Sant Jordi was celebrated with men and women giving each other roses to signify their love.

Red roses glow in the warm spring sunlight

In 1923, a shrewd bookseller cashed in on the hype by promoting April 23rd also as the day on which 2 famous writers, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, both died in 1616. UNESCO also jumped in on the act and claimed April 23rd as World Book Day. A new tradition was born in the Catalunya region and, instead of roses, women started giving books to their men. In cafés around Barcelona, it is common to hold 24 hour readings of Cervantes' Don Quixote on April 23rd.

Book sellers were extremely busy on Las Ramblas

We had some errands to run in the city, so we decided to stroll down Las Ramblas to see some of the festivities. The avenue was packed tighter than a sardine tin with book and flower sellers lined up in booths on each side with the public trying to move down the middle.

Blue roses were also very popular

We opted to walk down the roadways on either side to avoid the crush, as well as to evade the pickpockets who we knew would be taking advantage of the crowds to increase their personal wealth.

The start of the crowds in Las Ramblas

Occasionally we'd venture into the middle if something caught our eyes - such as this flower seller who was printing little logos onto the roses that he was selling.

The flower printer

Hello Kitty logo on a white rose

FC Barcelona logo

Once we neared the bottom of La Rambla, we veered off into Plaça Reial for a break. It's a delightful square surrounded by apartment buildings with busy restaurants and cafés on the ground floor.

Plaça Reial

Just walking the beasts

Time for a sit and a smoke

Of course, our Sant Jordi day would not have been complete if we hadn't bought the traditional Pan de Sant Jordi - bread made in the colours of the Catalunya Flag.

Pan de Sant Jordi - looked better than it tasted

J needed more coffee for her Nespresso machine, so we popped into the store to replenish her supplies.

Nespresso store on Passeig de Gràcia

From the crowds, it would appear that George Clooney has marketed well for the Nespresso brand. All those people are lined up to buy boxes of single shot aluminium capsules of coffee!