Sant Jordi - 23rd April
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Sant Jordi - 23rd April
Legend and tradition
According to popular tradition, Sant Jordi was a Roman soldier and was born in the 3rd century in Capadocia in Turkey. This Saint, who was under the orders of the emperor Diocletian, refused to carry out the emperor's edict to persecute all Christians throughout the empire. For this reason he was martyred and decapitated by his companions. In the eastern part of the empire, he soon became venerated as a martyr and shortly after this, fantastic stories related to him began to appear.
The exploits of Sant Jordi and the Dragon became popular throughout Europe around the 9th century and were compiled by the archbishop of Genoa, Iacopo da Varazze, in his book 'Legenda sanctorum'. In this version, however, the exploits took place in Libya.
The most popular legend in Catalunya about Sant Jordi tells that at Montblanc, in Conca de Barberà, there was a terrible dragon which viciously attacked men and beasts. To pacify it, lots were drawn and a person was chosen to be given as a sacrifice to the monster. One day, the misfortune fell on the king's daughter, who would have died in the beast's claws if it had not been for the arrival of a handsome knight who challenged the dragon and killed it. This same legend, although with slight variations, is told as a popular legend in England, Portugal and Greece.
In the beginning, Sant Jordi was a figure associated with the world of knights and courtly love, which could explain the custom of presenting a rose on the festival of the Saint. Some versions put this custom back to the Fira dels Enamorats (the Lovers' Fair) which was held in Barcelona at around the 15th century. What we can say for certain is that, at that time, roses were given out to the ladies who attended the mass given in the Sant Jordi Chapel of the Palau de la Generalitat on the day of Sant Jordi. The Dia del Llibre (the Book Day) is much more recent. According to some sources, it was first held on October 7th 1926 in commemoration of the birth of Miguel de Cervantes. The original idea came from the writer Vicent Clavel Andrés, who proposed it to the Cambra Oficial del Llibre de Barcelona. Shortly after, in the year 1930, the date was changed to April 23rd, the day of the death of Cervantes and of other universally known authors such as William Shakespeare and Garcilaso de la Vega. On this date, other well-known writers such as Josep Pla, Maurice Druon, K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov and Manuel Mejía Vallejo were also born or died.
On November 15th, 1995, at a general conference which took place in Paris, the festival of April 23rd dedicated to literature was declared World Book and Copyright Day by the UNESCOSant Jordi, the day of the book and the rose
It is very difficult to put an exact date which marks the beginning of the popular tradition of giving roses on the day of Sant Jordi. It must be very old as the Rose Fair has been held on the day of Sant Jordi since the 15th century. The age of this tradition tempts us to look for a link between a popular tradition and the symbolism of courtly love which the rose represents. However, apart from these possible theories that could justify the tradition, what is most important is that it has remained alive and is an indisputable symbol of Catalunya.
In 1926 Spain established April 23rd as the 'Dia del Llibre' to commemorate the death of Cervantes, imitating England, where the same day was also celebrated because it coincided with the date of the death of Shakespeare. The celebration quickly became popular in Barcelona and spread to the rest of Catalonia, but the original idea lost importance as it coincided with the day of the Patron Saint. However, while the festival was celebrated very little and even disappeared in some areas, in Catalonia it has become one of the most celebrated festivals, and at the same time, it has promoted and extended the sale of books in Catalan.
So therefore, in Catalunya, April 23rd is the day of Sant Jordi, the day of the rose and the book: the day of the Patron Saint and the day of love and culture. It is, in fact, a day of public-spiritedness, of culture and of respect amongst all those who live in Catalunya and, by extension, to all peoples and cultures around the world.
Sant Jordi in Catalunya
Documentary evidence of the devotion to Sant Jordi in Catalunya goes back to the 8th century. Documents from that time tell of a priest from Tarragona named Jordi who fled to Italy. In the 10th century, a bishop from Vic was named Jordi, and in the 11th century the abbé Oliba consecrated an altar dedicated to the Saint in the monastery of Ripoll. Examples of the cult to Sant Jordi can be found, from that time, in the consecration of chapels, altars and churches all around the country.
The Catalan kings showed their devotion to Sant Jordi: Jaume I explained in his 'Crònica' that Sant Jordi was seen helping the Catalans in their conquest of the city of Mallorca, Pere 'el Ceremoniós' established an order of cavalry under his advocation and Alfons el Magnànim dedicated chapels in his kingdoms of Sardinia and Naples to his memory.
The kings and the Generalitat promoted the celebration of the festival of Sant Jordi all over the Catalan territories. In Valencia, in 1343 it was already a popular festival; in 1407 it was publicly celebrated in Mallorca. In 1436 the Generalitat de Catalunya proposed to the 'Corts', meeting in Montsó, that the celebration be made official and compulsory; in 1456, the 'Corts', meeting in the Cathedral of Barcelona dictated a constitution which gave orders for the festival to take place, and included it in the code of the 'Constitucions de Catalunya'
(Source: Gencat) -
Sant Jordi celebrations for children
The Món Llibre literary festival for children and teenagers, which received more than 20,000 visitors last year, is now in its fourth year. There are more than 150 events and activities for all ages, and a host of books to introduce children to the pleasure of reading
Click here for more information on children´s events for Sant Jordi