Sant Jordi 2015
For yet another year books and roses will permeate the city, which will also host a variety of reading-related activities including an opening address by John Banville on the 22nd in the Saló de Cent
Irish writer John Banville will officially inaugurate St. George’s Day (Diada de Sant Jordi) on the evening of Wednesday the 22nd of April in the City Council’s Saló de Cent, where he will deliver the opening address and subsequently offer a chat with journalist Antonio Lozano both about his profession and about Barcelona’s candidature for the UNESCO Creative Cities Programme. Event could be followed by streaming in Barcelona Cultura
As tradition states, on the 23rd of April books and roses will become the city’s principal feature. This year, Catalan, Spanish and international writers the likes of Ken Follet will sign copies of their books in stations located along the city’s main arteries, e.g. La Rambla, La Rambla de Catalunya and, for the first time, the Passeig de Sant Joan, and flower stalls located throughout the city will offer the traditional roses.
The festival pays tribute to St. George who, legend would have it, killed a dragon on the 23rd of April in the year 303 when he was defending a princess, and the drops of blood the dragon spilt giving rise to a rose garden. Established in 1996 by UNESCO as International Book Day, Barcelona will also celebrate a tradition designed to encourage reading by bringing culture and love to the masses on the day that authors the likes of William Shakespeare and Josep Pla also died.
Many locations throughout the city will join in the festivities by organising a series of reading-related activities such as book-swap markets in numerous libraries and culture centres, recitals, and book fairs such as the one on the Plaça Sant Just where the eighth edition of the “Festival of Artist’s Books and Limited Editions” will be held.
St. George’s Day
When: the 23th of April
Tickets: Free. Open Doors day to some buildings
More informations here