The legend of Saint George

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. 

11th September: National Day of Catalonia

September 11th is a big deal in Catalunya and it has absolutely nothing to do with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. 

This day sits deep in the hearts of Catalans and dates back to 1714, when Catalan forces, after 14 months, fell in the Siege of Barcelona during the final stage of the Spanish Succession War. Having to surrender to troops that fought on behalf of the royal Bourbon monarchy, Barcelona, and all of Catalonia lost their institutions and territorial rights that were governed by the now defunct Crown of Aragon. 

This all started when the region chose to support the Archduke Charles of Austria of Habsburg, fame as the rightful owner to throne of Spain. The Spanish Borbones didn’t happen to agree and, by force, took to ruling over Spain with Philip V becoming the first Bourbon king of the country. 

Today, Diada Nacional de Cataluyna also known as Diada de l’Onze de Setembre, in Catalonia is a day of recognition commemorating a valiant day in the history of the region. Citizens take to the streets draping the Catalan flag (called senyeres or estelades) on their backs singing the Catalan anthem, Els Segadors, which was declared the official national anthem of the region by the Catalan Parliament in 1993. It wasn’t till 1980, after Dictator Franco was dead and all the institutions reinstated, that it declared September 11th an official non-secular holiday in Catalonia. This came after 94 years, when the first recognized commemoration took place. 

The day’s activities are a mixture of politics and pride. Traditionally, the heads of various political parties as well as local residents gather at the monument of Rafael Casanova making a symbolic offering of floral bouquets and Catalan flags in honor of his role in the Siege of Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession.

More information:

National Day of Catalonia - Wikipedia

"Gegants" and "Capgrossos" in Calella

Tradition "gegantera" in Catalonia goes back to the fourteenth century. From year 1391, specifically, are the first written documents which mention this centuries-old tradition. These documents refer to the Corpus Christi procession of Barcelona, where the giants of the time were Biblical figures such as David, Goliath and "Sant Cristòfol." Little recently, the tradition was spreading to all Països Catalans (Valencia and Mallorca) and appeared "capgrossos" and the female giants and, since the XIX century, the tradition went further Corpus to the festivals and carnivals, and the Giants went from be biblical figures to be kings, queens and nobles. 

After a long crisis during the second phase of the Franco dictatorship, the tradition rebounded strongly from the 1980s. People restored and reproduced the old giants, new ones were constructed, "colles" and associations and meetings were created all around Catalonia. These contemporaries giants are made of fiberglass and other lighter materials than traditional. In 1984, the Agrupació de Colles de Geganters of Catalonia was created, which from next year annually appoints a "Gegantera" City of Catalonia.

Well, this year's Giant World's Fair will be held in Calella, on September 25th and 26th, in occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Colla de Geganters i Grallers de Calella. Furthermore, the fair will coincide with the 30th Fira de Calella i l'Alt Maresme, held annually during these dates, which receives each year more than 60,000 visitors. 

More information at:

Agrupació de Colles de Geganters de Catalunya

Gegant - Wikipedia

Sant Joan Night's with GHT Hotels!

The "Revetlla de Sant Joan", popularly known as "Fire Night", the "Witches Night" or Midsummer in English is a celebration that takes place the night of 23 to 24 June all over Catalans Countries. Its origin is pagan and before the introduction of Christianity coincided with the summer solstice on June 21st. The Dinner consists of the traditional "coca" for dessert, of which there are sweet and savory variations.

GHT Hotels likes to celebrate and we do not want to miss this opportunity to share with you this great party. For this reason, all hotels will serve free "coca" with your first drink and, of course, there will be dance music so that you enjoy the shortest night of the year! In addition, in Hotel Balmes, we have a bit of fireworks in the pool area and dance floor.

In Hotel Xaloc there's neither "coca" or dance, but customers can enjoy from the terrace of the hotel, the fireworks in Platja d'Aro. Certainly a show not to be missed!