Sant Jordi
This weekend, April 23rd, was the feast of Sant Jordi, a big fesitval day throughout Catalunya.
Teh legend goes that a dragon was terrorizing Catalunya, eatting animals and people alike. The king decided to have a lottery of names, choosing the next victim who would have to sacrafice themselves to the Dragon. In order to be fair he included his name and the names of his family members, as well as all those in the village. His daughter, the Princess, was chosen to be the next victim. The king was devestated but there was nothing he could do. The Princess was prepared to be sacrficed, as as the dragon a night, Sant Jordi, approached on horseback and galantly saved the Princess by killing the dragon!
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Now adays, April 23rd is the feast of Sant Jordi, a festival day. Traditionally men give woman a rose and woman give men a book. The rose represents the blood spilled…the book, well, Shakespeare and Cervantes both dies on April 23rd, and I guess it makes the book vendors happy.
Sunday, the streets were filled with people and rose and book vendors lined the streets and plazas. I walked about with Katarina, Helen and Xeniea, from school, and we took in the sites. Along the Rambla, then the waterfront and finally to the Plaza Santa Maria del Mar. Everywhere roses!!!
When the girls went home I walked to my metro station and cross the Plaza Jaume I, where the seats of both the Spanish and Catalan governments are housed. It was a throng of people, with a symphony playing.
Catalan Goverment Building…a different day
Suddenly, I could hear drums…as a massive (peaceful) protest approached from the Rambla along Calle Ferran (the 2 main thouroughfares of the Gotic Quater). It had something to do with Catalan nationalism but I’m not sure what exactly…because the banners were all in Catalan.
Any which way, a very interesting day, and oh how I love flowers!
Tags: Spain
LizG