Spanish Festivals home page St. George's day is celebrated in and around Catalonia.
St. George's Day has been celebrated since 1436. St. George is the patron Saint of Catalonia
• Catalonia : In Catalonia St. George's day coincides with the Fair of the Book and the Rose. On this day every man offers a rose to his loved one (wife or fiancée), and in return she gives him a book. The book is in memory of Cervantes. This custom was started in 1926, to commemorate Cervantes death (authour of "Don Quiote").
• Barcelona : Book and Rose Fair. The St. James Square and main streets are lined with stalls selling books of all shapes and sizes. There is also an exhibition of roses in the patio of the Palace of the Autonomous Government as a symbol of the arrival of Spring
• Sant Climent Sescebes : Procession to the magic rock According to a local legend there is a magic rock near the village that leads to a huge treasure and the spell may only be broken on the night of St. George’s day. The people from the village form a procession and bless twelve loaves of bread, then they share them out among the crowd.
Email : Pat Spiller-Spanish Festivals or St. Paul's School, Barcelona