CELEBRATING SAINT GEORGE'S DAY IN NOTTING HILL, LDN

What do Sant Boi de Llobregat and London have in common? Many things, but perhaps the most important is that Catalonia and England share a patron saint, Sant Jordi / Saint George.

For this reason, The Morgans have wanted to celebrate such an important and significant day for Catalan and English culture and have visited William Thacker's bookstore in Notting Hill, where they have shared a fantastic day among books and roses. It has been a beautiful day, especially for Jordi Morgan. They have been talking about the uncertain origins of Saint George, about the importance of the Gypsy community in European history and about the transmission of culture orally through nursery rhymes and children's songs like Jean Petit.

Download The Game of The Goose (Sant Jordi)

Download The Game of The Goose (Barcelona)

Saint George's Day, also called the Feast of Saint George, is the feast day of Saint George as celebrated by various Christian Churches and by the several nations, old kingdoms, regions, states, countries and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Cáceres, Alcoi, Aragon and Catalonia. The saint also has his state holiday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the difference that St. George is not the patron saint of the region, but with his populism and the day of local festivals and masses, in addition to being part of the history of the suburb of Rio by syncretism, made the saint the most venerated in the city.

Saint George's Day is normally celebrated on 23 April. However, Church of England rules denote that no saints' day should be celebrated between Palm Sunday and the Sunday after Easter Day, so if 23 April falls in that period the celebrations are transferred to after it. 23 April is the traditionally accepted date of the saint's death in the Diocletian Persecution of AD 303.

Saint George became the patron saint of the former Crown of Aragon, when King Pere I won the Battle of Alcoraz in 1096 commending his army and people to the auspices of the saint. He is also patron of several former territories under the Crown of Aragon, including Valencia, Catalonia, Sicily, Sardinia, and several regions of Italy.

In most cases, the reason for those cities' adoption of the Saint as their holy Patron and shared flag is linked to the Aragonese colonial influence and various battles that occurred throughout the Mediterranean during the Reconquista. The international expansion of the Reconquista that followed over the next two centuries across the Mediterranean also led to the adoption of the cross of Saint George as a coat of arms by Christian Crusaders.

More information: English Heritage

The Catalan version of the legend of Sant Jordi says that after a fierce battle between the knight and the dragon, the beast fell through the sharp iron and that from the drops of blood that reached the ground a rose was born that bloomed profusely every April. This is the explanation that the oral tradition gives to the custom of giving roses on St. George's Day, April 23.

Legends and imaginary stories aside, we know that the tradition of giving roses to lovers comes from afar. St. George's bond with the world of chivalry and courtly love may have been the germ of tradition. We also know that in the 15th century the so-called Fira dels Enamorats was held in Barcelona and that sellers of this flower settled around the Palau de la Generalitat. At the same time, it was customary to present with a rose the women who attended the Eucharist officiated in the chapel of St. George in the palace. And finally, there are those who say that the custom of giving roses has Roman roots, specifically the festivals in honour of the goddess Flora, which were later Christianized.

In the symbolic universe, the red rose, the colour of passion, is the flower of female love, while the carnation is reserved for male love. The decoration of the rose, for Sant Jordi, is also quite curious and mixes elements from different sources. On the one hand, female love represented by the rose of red, velvety and fragile petals, and sometimes accompanied by a spike representing fertility, gives rise to a very ancient interpretation of cereal seeds. But there are also those who make a more prosaic reading of it and relate it to the arrival of good weather. On the other hand, the flower of Sant Jordi is also usually decorated with elements that evoke Catalan culture, such as ties or ribbons with the flag, which recall the vindictive content of the day.

Today, florists, corners, avenues, streets and squares become points of sale and distribution of thousands and thousands of roses that are given to loved ones, as tradition dictates, but also to friends, girlfriends, parents, co-workers and clients. Because this flower has transcended the original meaning of love and has also become a gift of courtesy and friendship. As you can see, the rose has become the protagonist of the festival, to the point that domestic production does not cover the demand, so it is necessary to resort to imports from other parts of the world far away.

In the 15th century, a rose fair was held in Barcelona on the occasion of Sant Jordi. It was attended mainly by grooms, fiancés and young couples, and this suggests that the custom of giving a rose has its origins in this festival, which was held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. It was proposed to turn this date into a precept festival for the first time in 1436, when the proposal was formulated in the Catalan Parliament. The proposal would take effect in 1456.

Since the 15th century, in Catalonia, St. George's Day has been a special day, and it is customary for couples to give each other a red rose like blood and a book. The monarchs Pere the Catholic, Jaume I or Pere the Ceremonious contributed to the saint's popularity. Despite being traditional, the popularization of giving roses was actively restored in 1914, thanks to the impetus of the Commonwealth.

Sant Jordi has been declared a National Day of Catalonia by the Generalitat, but this day is not a work holiday: it is a work and school day for students. For Sant Jordi, official receptions are held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya and in the world of education, where Floral Games are held, it is a day of big celebration and participation in which the printed and recited word has all the prominence.

The town of Montblanc, according to the Catalan Customs of the folklorist Joan Amades, was the place in Catalonia where Saint George killed the dragon and saved the princess. That is why, since 1987, the people of Montblanc have been reviving the Medieval Week of the Legend of Sant Jordi. The high point of the celebration is the representation of the legend of the noble horseman, hero and saviour of princesses, in the scenes picked up by the popular tradition.

The day has a vindictive aspect of Catalan culture and many balconies are decorated with the flag of Catalonia. There are stops with political demands, to help humanitarian organizations, to raise funds for schools or just to get some extra money. The media broadcast live from the most emblematic points. But above all it is necessary to emphasize the festive atmosphere that generates the day. There are activities in libraries and concerts in the streets that add to the busy Catalan cultural agenda.

Books and roses are sold all over Catalonia, but it is on the Rambla de Barcelona where the event reaches its maximum expression. Storms are added to the usual stops on the Rambla. There are also readings of poems or excerpts from books and theatres and performance halls do special promotions.

More information: Casa Batlló

 

Cavaller, bon cavaller,
alerta al drac,
que s'amaga rere els núvols
ran d'aquest llac.

Knight, good knight,
dragon alert,
which hides behind the clouds
ran of this lake.

Gabriel Janer Manila

SAINT GEORGE'S LEGEND, WHEN PAST BECOMES ETERNAL

The day before yesterday was Saint George and today, The Fosters and The
Grandma have decided to know more about his legend and his origins, which are very controversial.

They have been reading a wonderful and interesting legend about Saint George/Sant Jordi in Montblanc.

Once upon ago, there was a town with a castle named Montblanc. Inhabitants were farmers and makers. They lived happily. But, near the village, lived a terrible Dragon with sharp nails and a long tail.

Every morning, he hunted farm animals, ate two by two and then went to his cave. The dragon ate all the animals and the people decided by lottery to offer him a person to eat it.

Every day was sadder, Dragon visited them furious and hungry again and again. People gave him food so he wouldn't be angry anymore until one day, the princess, that she was young a pretty simple and very educated, was chosen to surrender to the dragon. People were terrified and all of them wanted to take her place, but the King said sadly that her daughter was like any other.

The next morning, the princess left the castle wearing a white dress, she crossed the village while the people were watching her sadly.

Suddenly, the princess heart how a knight arrived on a white horse. The Princess, very worried, stopped and recommended him that he should leave so he wouldn't eat it. The knight, who was named Saint George, told her that he would save the city of Montblanc from the Dragon.

Next, the Dragon flew over the heads of the princess, it descended and it and Saint George fought for their lives. Sant Jordi killed the dragon and he and the princess dragged his body to the town.

Meanwhile, the people greeted Saint George and they were very happy because he won the bad Dragon. The dragon died, and they said that from the blood of his wounds, was born to a rose, that Sant Jordi gave to the princess.

After, the King offered the hand of the princess, but the knight rejected it to continue fighting other battles (he made a cobra in Medieval style).

Then, the people were happy again. Sant Jordi rode his horse. He mysteriously disappeared and the Montblanquins, in gratitude, decided to let the world know this story.

Finally, they had a party for a week, dancing, eating and wearing their best clothes.

Today, Saint George is a special day in Catalonia. People bring roses and books to commemorate love and culture.

More information: Montblanc Medieval

 

Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey.
What fairy tales give the child is
his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey.
The baby has known the dragon intimately
ever since he had an imagination.
What the fairy tale provides for him is
a St. George to kill the dragon.

G.K. Chesterton

APRIL 23-SAINT GEORGE, BOOKS & ROSES IN CATALONIA

Today is Saint George, the favourite Grandma's day. It is a beautiful festivity, especially if you live in Catalonia, because Catalan people pay homage to their patron (Sant Jordi) with books and roses. It is the greatest Catalan culture day.

 

The Fosters and The Grandma have celebrated this beautiful day, which is also a National Day in England, visiting Notting Hill.

Saint George's Day, also called the Feast of Saint George, is the feast day of Saint George as celebrated by various Christian Churches and by the several nations, old kingdoms, regions, states, countries and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Cáceres, Alcoi, Aragon and Catalonia. The saint also has his state holiday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the difference that St. George is not the patron saint of the region, but with his populism and the day of local festivals and masses, in addition to being part of the history of the suburb of Rio by syncretism, made the saint the most venerated in the city.

Saint George's Day is normally celebrated on 23 April. However, Church of England rules denote that no saints' day should be celebrated between Palm Sunday and the Sunday after Easter Day, so if 23 April falls in that period the celebrations are transferred to after it. 23 April is the traditionally accepted date of the saint's death in the Diocletian Persecution of AD 303.

Saint George became the patron saint of the former Crown of Aragon, when King Pere I won the Battle of Alcoraz in 1096 commending his army and people to the auspices of the saint. He is also patron of several former territories under the Crown of Aragon, including Valencia, Catalonia, Sicily, Sardinia, and several regions of Italy.

In most cases, the reason for those cities' adoption of the Saint as their holy Patron and shared flag is linked to the Aragonese colonial influence and various battles that occurred throughout the Mediterranean during the Reconquista. The international expansion of the Reconquista that followed over the next two centuries across the Mediterranean also led to the adoption of the cross of Saint George as a coat of arms by Christian Crusaders.

More information: English Heritage

The Catalan version of the legend of Sant Jordi says that after a fierce battle between the knight and the dragon, the beast fell through the sharp iron and that from the drops of blood that reached the ground a rose was born that bloomed profusely every April. This is the explanation that the oral tradition gives to the custom of giving roses on St. George's Day, April 23.

Legends and imaginary stories aside, we know that the tradition of giving roses to lovers comes from afar. St. George's bond with the world of chivalry and courtly love may have been the germ of tradition. We also know that in the 15th century the so-called Fira dels Enamorats was held in Barcelona and that sellers of this flower settled around the Palau de la Generalitat. At the same time, it was customary to present with a rose the women who attended the Eucharist officiated in the chapel of St. George in the palace. And finally, there are those who say that the custom of giving roses has Roman roots, specifically the festivals in honour of the goddess Flora, which were later Christianized.

In the symbolic universe, the red rose, the colour of passion, is the flower of female love, while the carnation is reserved for male love. The decoration of the rose, for Sant Jordi, is also quite curious and mixes elements from different sources. On the one hand, female love represented by the rose of red, velvety and fragile petals, and sometimes accompanied by a spike representing fertility, gives rise to a very ancient interpretation of cereal seeds. But there are also those who make a more prosaic reading of it and relate it to the arrival of good weather. On the other hand, the flower of Sant Jordi is also usually decorated with elements that evoke Catalan culture, such as ties or ribbons with the flag, which recall the vindictive content of the day.

Today, florists, corners, avenues, streets and squares become points of sale and distribution of thousands and thousands of roses that are given to loved ones, as tradition dictates, but also to friends, girlfriends, parents, co-workers and clients. Because this flower has transcended the original meaning of love and has also become a gift of courtesy and friendship. As you can see, the rose has become the protagonist of the festival, to the point that domestic production does not cover the demand, so it is necessary to resort to imports from other parts of the world far away.

In the 15th century, a rose fair was held in Barcelona on the occasion of Sant Jordi. It was attended mainly by grooms, fiancés and young couples, and this suggests that the custom of giving a rose has its origins in this festival, which was held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. It was proposed to turn this date into a precept festival for the first time in 1436, when the proposal was formulated in the Catalan Parliament. The proposal would take effect in 1456.

More information: GenCat (Catalan Version)

Since the 15th century, in Catalonia, St. George's Day has been a special day, and it is customary for couples to give each other a red rose like blood and a book. The monarchs Pere the Catholic, Jaume I or Pere the Ceremonious contributed to the saint's popularity. Despite being traditional, the popularization of giving roses was actively restored in 1914, thanks to the impetus of the Commonwealth.

Sant Jordi has been declared a National Day of Catalonia by the Generalitat, but this day is not a work holiday: it is a work and school day for students. For Sant Jordi, official receptions are held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya and in the world of education, where Floral Games are held, it is a day of big celebration and participation in which the printed and recited word has all the prominence.

The town of Montblanc, according to the Catalan Customs of the folklorist Joan Amades, was the place in Catalonia where Saint George killed the dragon and saved the princess. That is why, since 1987, the people of Montblanc have been reviving the Medieval Week of the Legend of Sant Jordi. The high point of the celebration is the representation of the legend of the noble horseman, hero and saviour of princesses, in the scenes picked up by the popular tradition.

The day has a vindictive aspect of Catalan culture and many balconies are decorated with the flag of Catalonia. There are stops with political demands, to help humanitarian organizations, to raise funds for schools or just to get some extra money. The media broadcast live from the most emblematic points. But above all it is necessary to emphasize the festive atmosphere that generates the day. There are activities in libraries and concerts in the streets that add to the busy Catalan cultural agenda.

Books and roses are sold all over Catalonia, but it is on the Rambla de Barcelona where the event reaches its maximum expression. Storms are added to the usual stops on the Rambla. There are also readings of poems or excerpts from books and theatres and performance halls do special promotions.

More information: Casa Batlló

Cavaller, bon cavaller,
alerta al drac,
que s'amaga rere els núvols
ran d'aquest llac.

Knight, good knight,
dragon alert,
which hides behind the clouds
ran of this lake.

Gabriel Janer Manila

SAINT GEORGE'S LEGEND, WHEN PAST BECOMES ETERNAL

Yesterday was Saint George and today, The Grangers and The Grandma have decided to know more about his legend and his origins, which are very controversial.

Before reading a wonderful and interesting legend about Saint George/Sant Jordi in Montblanc, the family has been studying Past Simple.

 More information: Past Simple (Regular Verbs)

Once upon ago, there was a town with a castle named Montblanc. Inhabitants were farmers and makers. They lived happily. But, near the village, lived a terrible Dragon with sharp nails and a long tail.

Every morning, he hunted farm animals, ate two by two and then went to his cave. The dragon ate all the animals and the people decided by lottery to offer him a person to eat it.

Every day was sadder, Dragon visited them furious and hungry again and again. People gave him food so he wouldn't be angry anymore until one day, the princess, that she was young a pretty simple and very educated, was chosen to surrender to the dragon. People were terrified and all of them wanted to take her place, but the King said sadly that her daughter was like any other.

The next morning, the princess left the castle wearing a white dress, she crossed the village while the people were watching her sadly.

Suddenly, the princess heart how a knight arrived on a white horse. The Princess, very worried, stopped and recommended him that he should leave so he wouldn't eat it. The knight, who was named Saint George, told her that he would save the city of Montblanc from the Dragon.

Next, the Dragon flew over the heads of the princess, it descended and it and Saint George fought for their lives. Sant Jordi killed the dragon and he and the princess dragged his body to the town.

Meanwhile, the people greeted Saint George and they were very happy because he won the bad Dragon. The dragon died, and they said that from the blood of his wounds, was born to a rose, that Sant Jordi gave to the princess.

After, the King offered the hand of the princess, but the knight rejected it to continue fighting other battles (he made a cobra in Medieval style).

Then, the people were happy again. Sant Jordi rode his horse. He mysteriously disappeared and the Montblanquins, in gratitude, decided to let the world know this story.

Finally, they had a party for a week, dancing, eating and wearing their best clothes.

Today, Saint George is a special day in Catalonia. People bring roses and books to commemorate love and culture.

More information: Montblanc Medieval

Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey.
What fairy tales give the child is
his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey.
The baby has known the dragon intimately
ever since he had an imagination.
What the fairy tale provides for him is
a St. George to kill the dragon.

G.K. Chesterton

ENJOY 'SANT JORDI' IN SAINT GEORGE, STATEN ISLAND

Today is Saint George, one of the most venerated religious figures and patron of many places around the world, especially in European countries. Today, we also commemorate the death of William Shakespeare, one of the most universal writters in history, whose date of death has become a day to celebrate literature.

Saint George is the patron of England, but also Catalonia, where people give roses and books as a symbol of friendship, love and culture.

The Grangers and The Grandma have decided to visit St. George, a beautiful neighbourhood on the northeastern tip of Staten Island to commemorate this event and spend a great day together.

More information: April 23-Saint George, Books & Roses in Catalonia

More information: Sant Jordi, Unknown Origins & Venerated Patron

St. George is a neighbourhood on the northeastern tip of Staten Island in New York City, along the waterfront where the Kill Van Kull enters Upper New York Bay.

It is the most densely developed neighbourhood on Staten Island, and the location of the administrative center for the borough and for the coterminous Richmond County.

The St. George Terminal, serving the Staten Island Ferry and the Staten Island Railway, is also located here. St. George is bordered on the south by the neighbourhood of Tompkinsville and on the west by the neighbourhood of New Brighton.

What is now St. George was initially occupied by the Lenape Native Americans, then colonized by the Dutch and the British. The first residential developments arose in the 1830s, and through the late 19th century, the area was a summer resort. Until the construction of the ferry-railroad terminal in 1886, present-day St. George was considered to be part of New Brighton.

The section around the current ferry and railroad terminal was renamed after developer George Law, whom Erastus Wiman promised to canonize in exchange for relinquishing the land rights for the terminal. Several government buildings and landmarks were constructed in St. George in the early 20th century, and further developments on the waterfront commenced in the early 21st century.

More information: Generation NYC

St. George is part of Staten Island Community District 1. St. George is patrolled by the 120th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.

Originally, Staten Island was inhabited by the Munsee-speaking Lenape Native Americans. The Lenape relocated during different seasons, moving toward the shore to fish during the summers, and moving inland to hunt and grow crops during the fall and winter.

The present-day area of New York City was inhabited in 1624 by Dutch settlers as part of New Netherland.

In 1664, the Dutch gave New Netherland to the British, and six years later the British finalized a purchase agreement with the Lenape.

At the time of British handover, several British, Dutch, and French settlers occupied the area, but did not have an established title to the land. A series of surveys were conducted through 1677, and several parcels were distributed to different landowners.

Among them were the 140 ha Duxbury Glebe, given to Ellis Duxbury in 1708, bequeathed to the Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Andrew's ten years later, and then leased for 54 years by John Bard in 1765.

Another tract was granted to Lambert Jansen Dorlant in 1680, whose western boundary was a brook on present-day Jersey Street.

By 1748, it had been purchased by Salmon Comes, who ran a ferry to Manhattan.

By 1765, part of the Dorlant tract was owned by John Wandel, a molasses distiller who operated a plant at the Kill Van Kull near Richmond Terrace and Westervelt Avenue, taking advantage of the Jersey Street brook. Two Native American roads intersected near the distiller: Shore Road (today's Richmond Terrace) on the North Shore, and a road that winded southward on St. Marks Place and then Hamilton and Westervelt Avenues.

Fort Hill, one of the hills overlooking the harbor, was the location on Duxbury's Point or Ducksberry Point, fortified by the British during the American Revolutionary War. Hessian troops, contracted by the British, were stationed near the Jersey Street brook, which then became known as Hessian Springs.

After the end of the war, the area remained primarily rural through the early 19th century. The area became part of the town of Castleton upon the town's incorporation in 1788. 

The New York state government took 12 ha of Duxbury Glebe in 1799, upon which it established the New York Marine Hospital, also The Quarantine, a contagious disease hospital. The state then gave 2.0 ha to the federal government for the U.S. Light-House Depot Complex, a lighthouse facility.

Among the first people to promote the widespread development of Staten Island was former U.S. vice president Daniel D. Tompkins, who purchased land in the northern part of Staten Island in the early 1810s. Tompkins purchased Abraham Crocheron's farm, located on present-day Jersey Street south of Richmond Terrace, in 1814.

The next year, he acquired 280 ha from St. Andrew's Church, and two years after that, he bought Philip Van Buskirk's land claim, located between the two disconnected pieces of land. Tompkins also incorporated the Richmond Turnpike Company to build present-day Victory Boulevard in 1816, started operating a ferry to Manhattan in 1817, and laid out the adjacent village of Tompkinsville for development between 1819 and 1821. Tompkins then expanded the Van Buskirks' old farmhouse, using it as his primary residence. He died in 1825.

Tompkins's property within present-day St. George was sold in April 1834 to Manhattan developer Thomas E. Davis, who continued to buy land through the following year.

More information: NYC Gov

In the years after unification, the North Shore became quickly urbanized, and the political and economic center of Staten Island shifted to the region. Development of St. George turned mostly to residential and commercial uses by the 1900s.

As early as 1919, St. George was used to describe the northeastern waterfront of Staten Island as well as the hills immediately adjacent to the ferry terminal.

The community underwent a revival starting in the late 1980s, when a group of developers proposed the St. George Seaport at Brighton, a $750 million retail and commercial complex based on Manhattan's South Street Seaport. Redevelopment of the area continued through the 1990s.

In 1994, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the St. George Historic District, which includes 78 houses and St. Peter's Church. The Brighton Heights Reformed Church, a city and national landmark in St. George, burned down in 1996 and was rebuilt three years later.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, younger families were starting to move to St. George, since housing in the neighbourhood was cheaper compared to in the rest of the city.

In the first decade of the 21st century, several prominent structures in St. George were renovated or opened.

More information: Silive

The reality is: 

Staten Island is like 90 percent of the country
-it’s slow to change, 

but most of the people are fundamentally good people.
They’re just set in their ways.
After all, it’s an island. It has its own evolution.

Colin Jost

MAYTE VISITS MONTBLANC IN LA CONCA DE BARBERÀ

Today, The Grandma has received news from Mayte, one of her closest friends.

Mayte has visited Montblanc, the capital of La Conca de Barbera county, and she has shared her memories and photos with The Grandma.

 

Montblanc is the capital of the Catalan county Conca de Barberà. The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this town. The municipality comprises the settlements of Montblanc, La Guàrdia dels Prats, Lilla, Prenafeta, Rojals, and El Pinetell.

The area around Montblanc has been inhabited for thousands of years. Evidence of cave dwellings have been found dating back to Palaeolithic times.

From the 4th to the 1st century BC Iberian villages existed on Santa Bàrbara hill. These villages coexisted with the early Roman settlers. Evidence of Roman artifacts have been found which date from between the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD.

After the invasion by the Moors in 711 AD, much of the area became dominated by a patchwork of Islamic fiefdoms. The Islamic invasion initiated a long period of very successful agricultural and commercial development. This was responsible for the birth of many towns and villages in the region which still retain their Islamic names.
The 10th and 11th centuries seem to have been a period of relatively peaceful coexistence in which Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in the region of Montblanc. This productive period continued until an allegiance of forces, strongly supported by the Roman Catholic Church, initiated an era of expulsions, which forced Muslims and Jews to leave the Iberian peninsula.

Maties Palau Ferré (1921-2000), painter and sculptor, disciple of Pablo Picasso, was born and died in Montblanc.

More information: Catalunya

An important legend was collected by the Catalan writer about customs and manners  Joan Amades who placed the fight of Saint George and the dragon in front of Montblanc town walls.

A long time ago a fierce dragon frightened the people in Montblanc. It ate up the pasture animals to such an extent to threaten the town’s population. So as to avoid the attack of the beast it was decided to give it a person every day. There was a draw among the population, the king’s family was included in it, and the destiny  wanted the king’s daughter to be the  person chosen. When she was going to be swallowed  by the dragon a horseman appeared and saved her of being killed by the dragon. The horseman was Saint George. At the place where the dragon poured out its blood a rosebush with red roses grew. Since then it has been maintained the Catalan tradition in which men give a red rose to their beloved women.

Every year, coinciding with St. George day (23rd April) Montblanc organises a Medieval Week. During two weekends the town revives its medieval origin and the streets, squares and towers are embellished with the noble flags and standards. There are a lot of activities that transport the visitors back to the Middle Age: the performance of  Saint George's legend, the scenes of medieval life, the medieval supper, a concentration of dragons and fire, the medieval market, the performance of the Catalan Courts and so on…

The Medieval Week of Saint George has turned into the most important and most famous celebration in Montblanc. It has been designated as a Festival of National Tourist interest in Catalonia.

More information: Montblanc Medieval

 Advance our standards, set upon our foes;
Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,
Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!

William Shakespeare

APRIL 23. SAINT GEORGE, BOOKS & ROSES IN CATALONIA

Today is Saint George, the favourite Grandma's day. It is a beautiful festivity, especially if you live in Catalonia, because Catalan people pay homage to their patron with books and roses. It is the greatest Catalan culture day.

Saint George's Day, also called the Feast of Saint George, is the feast day of Saint George as celebrated by various Christian Churches and by the several nations, old kingdoms, regions, states, countries and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Cáceres, Alcoi, Aragon and Catalonia. The saint also has his state holiday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the difference that St. George is not the patron saint of the region, but with his populism and the day of local festivals and masses, in addition to being part of the history of the suburb of Rio by syncretism, made the saint the most venerated in the city.

Saint George's Day is normally celebrated on 23 April. However, Church of England rules denote that no saints' day should be celebrated between Palm Sunday and the Sunday after Easter Day, so if 23 April falls in that period the celebrations are transferred to after it. 23 April is the traditionally accepted date of the saint's death in the Diocletian Persecution of AD 303.

Saint George became the patron saint of the former Crown of Aragon, when King Pere I won the Battle of Alcoraz in 1096 commending his army and people to the auspices of the saint. He is also patron of several former territories under the Crown of Aragon, including Valencia, Catalonia, Sicily, Sardinia, and several regions of Italy.

In most cases, the reason for those cities' adoption of the Saint as their holy Patron and shared flag is linked to the Aragonese colonial influence and various battles that occurred throughout the Mediterranean during the Reconquista. The international expansion of the Reconquista that followed over the next two centuries across the Mediterranean also led to the adoption of the cross of Saint George as a coat of arms by Christian Crusaders.

More information: English Heritage

The Catalan version of the legend of Sant Jordi says that after a fierce battle between the knight and the dragon, the beast fell through the sharp iron and that from the drops of blood that reached the ground a rose was born that bloomed profusely every April. This is the explanation that the oral tradition gives to the custom of giving roses on St. George's Day, April 23.

Legends and imaginary stories aside, we know that the tradition of giving roses to lovers comes from afar. St. George's bond with the world of chivalry and courtly love may have been the germ of tradition. We also know that in the 15th century the so-called Fira dels Enamorats was held in Barcelona and that sellers of this flower settled around the Palau de la Generalitat. At the same time, it was customary to present with a rose the women who attended the Eucharist officiated in the chapel of St. George in the palace. And finally, there are those who say that the custom of giving roses has Roman roots, specifically the festivals in honour of the goddess Flora, which were later Christianized.

In the symbolic universe, the red rose, the colour of passion, is the flower of female love, while the carnation is reserved for male love. The decoration of the rose, for Sant Jordi, is also quite curious and mixes elements from different sources. On the one hand, female love represented by the rose of red, velvety and fragile petals, and sometimes accompanied by a spike representing fertility, gives rise to a very ancient interpretation of cereal seeds. But there are also those who make a more prosaic reading of it and relate it to the arrival of good weather. On the other hand, the flower of Sant Jordi is also usually decorated with elements that evoke Catalan culture, such as ties or ribbons with the flag, which recall the vindictive content of the day.

Today, florists, corners, avenues, streets and squares become points of sale and distribution of thousands and thousands of roses that are given to loved ones, as tradition dictates, but also to friends, girlfriends, parents, co-workers and clients. Because this flower has transcended the original meaning of love and has also become a gift of courtesy and friendship. As you can see, the rose has become the protagonist of the festival, to the point that domestic production does not cover the demand, so it is necessary to resort to imports from other parts of the world far away.

In the 15th century, a rose fair was held in Barcelona on the occasion of Sant Jordi. It was attended mainly by grooms, fiancés and young couples, and this suggests that the custom of giving a rose has its origins in this festival, which was held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. It was proposed to turn this date into a precept festival for the first time in 1436, when the proposal was formulated in the Catalan Parliament. The proposal would take effect in 1456.

Since the 15th century, in Catalonia, St. George's Day has been a special day, and it is customary for couples to give each other a red rose like blood and a book. The monarchs Pere the Catholic, Jaume I or Pere the Ceremonious contributed to the saint's popularity. Despite being traditional, the popularization of giving roses was actively restored in 1914, thanks to the impetus of the Commonwealth.

Sant Jordi has been declared a National Day of Catalonia by the Generalitat, but this day is not a work holiday: it is a work and school day for students. For Sant Jordi, official receptions are held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya and in the world of education, where Floral Games are held, it is a day of big celebration and participation in which the printed and recited word has all the prominence.

The town of Montblanc, according to the Catalan Customs of the folklorist Joan Amades, was the place in Catalonia where Saint George killed the dragon and saved the princess. That is why, since 1987, the people of Montblanc have been reviving the Medieval Week of the Legend of Sant Jordi. The high point of the celebration is the representation of the legend of the noble horseman, hero and saviour of princesses, in the scenes picked up by the popular tradition.

The day has a vindictive aspect of Catalan culture and many balconies are decorated with the flag of Catalonia. There are stops with political demands, to help humanitarian organizations, to raise funds for schools or just to get some extra money. The media broadcast live from the most emblematic points. But above all it is necessary to emphasize the festive atmosphere that generates the day. There are activities in libraries and concerts in the streets that add to the busy Catalan cultural agenda.

Books and roses are sold all over Catalonia, but it is on the Rambla de Barcelona where the event reaches its maximum expression. Storms are added to the usual stops on the Rambla. There are also readings of poems or excerpts from books and theatres and performance halls do special promotions.

More information: Casa Batlló

Cavaller, bon cavaller,
alerta al drac,
que s'amaga rere els núvols
ran d'aquest llac.

Knight, good knight,
dragon alert,
which hides behind the clouds
ran of this lake.

Gabriel Janer Manila

LA SAGRADA FAMÍLIA: WHAT'S THE TRUTH?

The Sagrada Família

Today has been a very special day.

The Collins Family has arrived to Barcelona to visit the Sagrada Família, the most famous Antoni Gaudi’s work, although it’s not the most interesting: La Colònia Güell is the most enigmatic one. 

This visit has been a personal gift of MJ, N and M for the family.

Download Barcelona's Natural Wonder by Antoni Gaudí

The Sagrada Família

After taking the public transport for avoiding the World Mobile Congress crowd, they have reached their objective: staying at 10:15 in the main entrance called Façana del Naixement. They’ve obtained their audio guides and they’ve entered into the Temple for discovering the power of the nature in Gaudí’s architecture. 

The weather has been fantastic: sunny and warm day and this has helped the visitors to experiment the mystery of the colours inside. 

The Collins Family has taken lots of photos and has talked about the symbolism of Gaudí and the Sagrada Família parallelisms with Majorca’s Cathedral.

Animals like turtles, tortoises, snakes, snails, salamanders and lizards have appeared from different and hidden places of the building and different Sant Jordi (Saint George) have protected us during the visit.

The Sagrada Família

Once the ground plant has been visited, The Collins Family has gone to contemplate the essence of life’s mysteries in the other side of the Temple: La façana de la Passió created by Josep Maria Subirachs an incredible and magic hieroglyph about life and existence.

Symbols of Alfa and Omega have reminded us that all things, even life, have a beginning and an end; an enigmatic magic square has showed us how important are mathematics in our existence; the maze has explained us how difficult sometimes can be choosing the correct way and the Salvador Espriu’s words has evocated the importance of respect and tolerance between different cultures and races. 

Two hours and a half later, exhausted, The Collins Family has returned to the hotel in Sant Boi de Llobregat, a beautiful town near Barcelona, next to one of the most important places around the planet: La Colònia Güell.

Download The calculations of La Sagrada Família by Antoni Gaudí

Who knows where the world may
turn us, only a fool would say
Who knows what the fate may
have in store
Follow the light of truth as far
as our eyes can see
How should we knows where that
may be? How should we know?

Alan Parsons Project