Once upon a time, in Montblanc, a town situated in Catalonia, there was a terrible monster who could walk, fly and swim, and had a smelly breath so that from far away with its breath poisoned the air and produced death to all who breathed. The dragon used to eat 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. 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 Sant Jordi. 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.

Although the festivity was celebrated with more or less intensity or less since the sixteenth century, it is in the lates nineteenth century, the political and cultural movement of the Renaissance, when Sant Jordi was established as patriotic, civic and cultural festival most celebrated in Barcelona and Catalonia. Over the years it has acquired a vindictive tone of Catalan culture. So many balconies of the city are decorated with the Catalan flag, La Senyera.

For all this reasons, the 23th of April is easy to see in each street stalls selling roses and books. But why a single red rose accompanied by an ear of corn and not any other flower? Because according to tradition, in this present three characteristics come together: a single flower, symbolizing the exclusivity of love by the beloved; the red rose, symbolizing passion; and ear of wheat, symbolizing fertility. So it is a good item to give to a loved one on a special day like this. And the book which symbolizes the Catalan culture and literature.

Barcelona is one of the cities where you can appreciate this atmosphere, especially in the street Les Rambles. However the truth is that the main streets of Catalonia are stained red and the cultural events spread everywhere. City Halls offer free tours around the building, in the libraries there are many different events related to literature, there are held many literary contests of different genres and languages for all ages.

 In my opinion, the most exciting part is developed at schools, because as a child that I was and as a teacher that I am, I really find it interesting, enriching and exciting for all pupils. In each school they developed different activities according to the children’s age. For example in Kindergarten they do activities and plays for them. In primary schools and secondary schools many literary contests are held, where children can participate creating poems, stories, theater plays, drawings, posters and caligramas, which is a poem, phrase, word or set of words whose purpose is to form a figure about what this poem, in which typography, calligraphy or handwritten text is arranged or configured such that it creates a kind of image visual (visual poetry). 

So on Sant Jordi’s day the awards of the contests are given, which usually are roses, books or vouchers for spending on books and stationary shops. As well, many concerts, plays, workshops, and activities are developed.