La Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George day) is on the April 23rd the day of the rose and the books.

Such a interesting tradition combines a rose as a symbol of love and a book as a symbol of culture has turned April 23rd into a festive celebration which fills the streets and squares with book and flower sellers. Historically men gave womens rose and womens gave mens a book to celebrate the occasion.

Based on the popular tradition, Sant Jordi, patron saint of Catalonia, international knight-errant, allegedly slew a dragon about to devour a beautiful princess south of Barcelona. From the dr

agon's blood sprouted a rosebush, from which the hero plucked the prettiest for the princess.

The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts, loved ones and respected ones. Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the giving of books is a more recent tradition an excuse. In 1923, a bookseller started to promote the holiday as a way to honour the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare on April 23, 1616. It is a day for walking around and enjoying the spectacle of streets turning into open-air book shops, and events and activities take place all over the city.