Saint George's Day in Catalonia
| Saint George's Day Diada de Sant Jordi (Catalan) | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Diada de Sant Jordi |
| Also called | Dia del Llibre i de la Rosa |
| Observed by | Catalonia |
| Significance | Feast day of Saint George as patron saint of Catalonia |
| Celebrations | Exchange of books and roses between loved ones, celebration of Catalan culture and literature, celebration of love and affection |
| Begins | 15th c. (roses) October 7, 1926 (books) April 23, 1931 (current) |
| Date | 23 April |
| Next time | 23 April 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | St George's Day in other countries, World Book Day, Valentine's Day |
Saint George's Day (Catalan: Diada de Sant Jordi), also known as the Day of Books and Roses (Dia del Llibre i de la Rosa), is celebrated annually in Catalonia (Spain) on 23 April. Saint George (Catalan: Sant Jordi) is the patron saint of Catalonia in a tradition established in the Middle Ages. Despite being a working day, it is regarded as one of Catalan national holidays due to its massive popularity. It is also celebrated, to a lesser extent, in Northern Catalonia (France), in Andorra, and in some other areas of Spain.
On this day, love and literature are widely celebrated throughout Catalonia. Books and roses are exchanged, particularly between sweethearts and loved ones. Traditionally, men gave women a red rose (often combined with an ear of wheat), and women gave men a book, however, in modern times the mutual exchange of books and roses regardless of gender is also customary. Therefore, the festival roughly serves the same romantic purpose that of Valentine's Day in Anglophone countries.