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SPANISH TRADITIONS

Why St George’s Day is celebrated in Catalonia with roses and books

Red roses and books flood the streets of Barcelona every April 23rd as Spain's Catalonia region celebrates its patron saint - Sant Jordi.

Published: 23 April 2020 10:51 CEST
Updated: 22 April 2024 15:08 CEST
Why St George's Day is celebrated in Catalonia with roses and books
Gaudi's "Casa Batllo" facade decorated with roses in Barcelona, on Saint George's day. Photo: AFP

Every April 23rd on the day of Sant Jordi, or St George, people in the northeastern region give each other a rose or a book in a celebration of their patron saint, love and culture.

Originally the tradition involved men giving their love a rose, while she in return would give him a book. But it has evolved, and today women also receive books, and flowers are given as well to mothers, daughters, friends and even co-workers.

The region marks the day by setting up book and flower stands in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, as well as towns across Catalonia.

Roses are typically sold wrapped in yellow and red paper, like the Senyera (Catalan flag) and paired with a sheaf of wheat. Sometimes hearts or small dragon figurines are also attached. 

Bakeries sell special pa de Sant Jordi (red and yellow striped bread) and colourful tarts decorated with roses, musicians perform in the streets of Barcelona, and authors sign copies of their books. 

Why books? 

April 23rd also coincides with UNESCO’s World Book Day, as it celebrates the anniversary of the deaths of William Shakespeare and famed Spanish author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes. 

On average retailers sell around six million roses, and over 1.5 million books on the day just in Catalonia, which is home to 7.5 million people.

Catalan booksellers make between 5-8 percent of their annual sales on the day of Sant Jordi and one in every three books bought in Catalonia is sold on this day, according to the Catalan booksellers association. The majority of the books sold are in the Catalan language. 

Since 1931 a book fair has been held in Barcelona on April 23rd – St George’s Day. 

Since then, the tradition of offering books and roses in Catalonia has thrived, even during the 1939-74 dictatorship of General Francisco Franco when the open sale of books in the Catalan language was banned.

READ ALSO: Ten books that tell you everything you need to know about Spain

Saint George’s day in Barcelona. Photo: Josep LAGO / AFP

Dragon slayer

Catalonia adopted St George as its patron saint in the 15th century, the same patron saint as England, Georgia, Genoa in Italy, and many other places around the world. 

According to legend, he saved a princess from a dragon, by stabbing it with his spear while riding on a white horse. Where the dragon’s blood spilt, a rosebush grew in its place and Sant Jordi offered one of its roses to the princess.

READ ALSO: The 14 best books about the Spanish Civil War

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BARCELONA

The most affordable areas to live in and around Barcelona

It’s well known that Barcelona is one of the most expensive cities to live in Spain, and becoming more and more costly every year. There are however still areas that are much more affordable than others in 2024, writes Barcelona-based Esme Fox.

Published: 6 May 2024 12:19 CEST
The most affordable areas to live in and around Barcelona

The average rental price in Barcelona now, according to property portal Idealista, is €21.1 / m2 which will set you back around €1,235 per month. And if you want to buy somewhere, you’ll be paying an average of €4,317 /m2.

So are there still any affordable areas left to live in around the city? The good news is that there definitely are, even within a 20-30 minute journey of the very centre.

The bad news, however, is that while some of them are nice spots away from the tourist zones, several of them are cheaper because they’re undesirable, unattractive or have social issues with relatively high crime rates.

We’ve listed 10 of the most affordable neighbourhoods in and around the city, what you can expect from them, which places are the best and which are best avoided.

Santa Coloma de Gramenet

Santa Coloma lies just to the northeast of Barcelona across the River Besòs and is actually considered a separate town, even though it’s on the Barcelona metro system and has very good connections with the city. It is in fact one of the cheapest places to live if you want to be within striking distance of Barcelona with the average price to buy just around €1.965 /m2 according to property giant Idealista and rent around 14,3 €/m2.

It’s a relatively safe area compared to many of the cheapest in and around Barcelona and has a very multicultural population, as well as close proximity to big superstores such as Ikea and DIY specialist Leroy Merlin.

Badalona

Badalona is another separate town that lies to the east of Barcelona and is probably one of the best options on the list. In recent years a wave of young professionals and families have moved here, having been priced out of Barcelona itself. The main advantage of living here is that you have an excellent beach, plus lots of attractive-looking houses and good restaurants surrounding it, at a fraction of the price for what you’d pay in Barceloneta or Poblenou. The best spots are near the beachfront, while the northern part of the neighbourhood doesn’t have the nicest feel to it. 

According to Idealista you’d pay an average of €14.4 / m2, which would be around €1,152 per month for an apartment of 80m2. And if you want to buy somewhere, it would set you back €2,162 / m2.

Sant Adrià de Besòs

Sant Adrià de Besòs is the neighbourhood which lies between Barcelona and Badalona, straddling the mouth of the River Besòs. The main benefit of living here is that you’re within easy distance of the river and the large green park that sits either side of it, perfect for cycling, rolling blading and numerous other sports. While some spots are ok to live, the main problem, however, is that you really have to know where to look and where to avoid.

For example, La Mina is part of Sant Adrià de Besòs, one of Barcelona’s most dangerous areas with a relatively high crime rate and lots of social issues such as drugs. And don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s a cheap area near the beach. There’s a reason for this, the beach located here lies right in front of the Les Tres Xemeneies (The Three Chimneys) an old factory and is often quite polluted and smells, so it’s not ideal for swimming. For rent the average price is around €14 / m2, while to buy you’ll pay around €2,343 / m2.

Ciutat Meridiana

Ciutat Meridiana is one of the least-well known neighbouhoods on the list because it lies right at the very northeastern corner of the city above Trinitat Vella and Torre Baró areas. Technically it’s part of the wider Nou Barris district and takes its name from the big Meridiana Avenue, one of the main roads that comes into the city from the north.

The area is definitely not the best looking, with mainly 80s-style town blocks and council-type estates, but it’s not particularly dodgy or dangerous. Live here and you’ll be treated to excellent city views, however, plus be located close to the green Collserola Natural Park, a great hiking spot.

Many of the most affordable areas are in the northeast of the city near the Collserola Natural Park. Photo: Carlos Pernalete Tua / Pexels
 

El Bon Pastor

Bon Pastor extends from the village-like barrio of Sant Andreu de Palomar all the way to the River Besòs and the very edge of the city. It’s home to places such as the Westfield Maquinista shopping mall, one of the best in Barcelona, as well as many car showrooms and lots of big warehouses with a kind of industrial vibe. It’s a relatively safe area, even though it’s not one of the most attractive. The average price to rent an apartment here costs around €601.40 and to buy it’s €2.312 / m2.  

Trinitat Nova

La Trinitat Nova is located in the larger district of Nou Barris in the northeastern corner of the city. It sits to the left of the big Avinguda Meridiana and borders the Collserola Natural Park along the western edge. It’s not particularly a dodgy place to live, but it doesn’t best vibe and the edge along the Collserola does have a small shanty town. Its advantages, however, are that it’s well connected to the city. Taking the yellow line, you can be in the centre of Barcelona in just over 20 minutes. Rent costs an average of €662,3 per month and to buy you’ll pay €2,113 / m2.

Trinitat Vella

La Trinitat Vella sits to the right of Trinitat Nova, directly above the neighbourhood of Sant Andreu de Palomar. It has a similar feel to Trinitat Nova too, but does have the benefit of being located around the large Trinitat Vella park. Built around the top of a hill, it features a large lake, as well as grassy meadows and forested areas. There are also basketball courts and even a model racing car track. The average rental price here costs €674,7 per month and to buy you’ll pay around €2,386 / m2.

Roquetes

Located in the larger district of Nou Barris, Roquetes lies to the west of Trinitat Nova, along the edge of the Collserola. It’s characterised by steep streets and high-rise tower blocks. Again like some of the others above it’s not a pretty neighbourhood with a lot going on, but it’s not particularly dodgy or dangerous either. It’s ideal for those who love hiking, being so close to the natural park and many of its best trails, so you won’t even need to take public transport before you’re in the heart of nature. To rent here will cost you around €728.70 and the average cost to buy is €2,113 / m2.

El Carmel 

El Carmel lies more to the northern central part of the city within the municipality of Horta-Guinardó, stretching north from Gaudí’s Parc Güell and Parc del Guinardó up to Horta. It too is characterised by very steep streets and has a chilled residential atmosphere. While the centre of the neighbourhood is nothing to write home about, the southern part lies within walking distance to two of the city’s best parks and the northern part is situated close to the lovely, leafy village-like barrio of Horta, great for families. Living here will set you back an average of €769 to rent and €3,170 / m2 to buy. 

Verdun

Verdun is a small area compared to many of the others and sits right below Roquetas until it meets Via Júlia. It’s mostly residential and is also relatively safe. The nicest part is centred around Via Júlia which is like the area’s own Rambla, lined with many shops and cafes. Renting here will cost you an average of €770 and €2,386 / m2 to buy, being located within Nou Barris.

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