On Saturday 23 April (this year in middle of Holy Week) is the feast of St. Jorge, and today I will explain the origins of this magnificent day, not only held in the Catalan Countries, but throughout the world, each place with its traditions.
The countries that celebrate St George's Day are England, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia and Palestine. The cities are Moscow, Genova, Ljubljana, Beirut, Qormi and Victoria (Malta) and many others. It is also celebrated in the old kingdoms and counties of the Crown of Aragon, Spain - Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. The feast of St. George is the most important in England as well as other regions. In Catalonia, called the National Day of Sant Jordi is the second National Day and the tradition is to give a book or a rose to loved ones.
But where the legends com from?
"Explains the written legend in lands of Cappadocia, though popularly each region fits the legend to locate in its own, were a dragon which attacked the kingdom. The people decided that to avoid attacks, they will hand over two lambs every day to be devoured by the dragon and satisfy its hunger.
But one day the sheeps began to run out and people agreed to send a person and a lamb, so every day was a sweepstakes and this person was sent to Dragon's Cave. One day in the draw, came out the name of the princess. At this time, the king offered wealth to the family of these who take her place, but people refused and they criticized him because many had lost their families and the King did not have to be the exception. Thus, no alternative, the princess walked to the dragon's den when she met halfway Saint George that, listening to her situation, offered to rescue her and killed the dragon stabbing his sword into the heart. From the blood that flowed became a rose.
Saint George was offered him riches by the King, but he rejected it and called to divide by the people. He also built a church in his name, which flowed miracle water to cure the sick."
In the Catalan Countries, the “Diadad de Sant Jordi” is one of the most important feast, and also the oldest. In Catalonia, it was proposed to convert this date in celebration of obligation for the first time 1436, when a proposal was made to cuts of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The proposal would be effective on 1456. Traditionally, and from the fifteenth century in Catalonia the “Diadad de Sant Jordi” is Lover's Day, and it is customary for couples to give a red "as blood" rose.
In modern times, the book exchange is also frequent. Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the delivery of books is a more recent tradition, originated in 1923 when a bookseller from Barcelona became to promote the feast as a way to commemorate the death of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, almost simultaneous, on April 23, 1616. A curiosity is that they didn't really died the same day, as in England still was use the Julian calendar and the Kingdom of Spain had already adopted the current Gregorian calendar. Still, the 1995 UNESCO declared this day as International Book Day. 
The party has an air of protest of Catalan culture and many balconies are emblazoned with the "senyera", the catalan flag. In Barcelona, and in all towns and cities of Catalonia, books and roses are selled all around, but La Rambla, and all the city centers, are where the event reaches its maximum expression. It is traditional to promote the sale of books with signatures of its authors and by a discount price. The libraries nearby Plaça Catalunya are crowded and open even if it is Sunday. There are also poetry and book's fragments readings and entertainment theaters make special promotions. In 2010 it is estimated that six million roses were sold in Catalonia, 40% of those sold throughout the year. There are tends with political demands, to raise funds for humanitarian organizations or schools or simply to get some extra money. The media broadcasts direct from the most emblematic spot. But above all we must stress the festive atmosphere generated by the party. Floral Games are conducted in schools, activities in libraries and concerts in the streets that add to the busy cultural agenda of the city.
