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A rose for love and a book forever

Feliz día de Sant Jordi!

On the 23rd of April, the whole Catalunya celebrates the Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day), to commemorate one of its patron saints and I believe it is probably the actual Saint Valentine's day around here. The tradition wants sweethearts (but also loved ones and friends) to exchange gifts: men gave women roses, and women gave men a book to celebrate the occasion—"a rose for love and a book forever." Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the giving of books is a more recent tradition originating in 1923 and used to commemorate the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare on 23 April 1616. So this is the day bookshops are so full you cannot even move around and Las Ramblas are filled with thousands of thousands of roses.

I wish you all a Happy Saint George's day!


All images via.

4 comments:

  1. (María) MARQ / gzgz23 April 2013 at 13:52

    Hola Elena, estamos de celebración las dos: también en Castilla y León es fiesta, Villalar, el día de la comunidad.
    Eso... y la sorpresa que te dejo en mi entrada de hoy:
    http://marq-gzgz.blogspot.com.es/2013/04/marq-otros-premio-liebster-awards.html
    Es una alegría para mí que me hayan otorgado este premio, y también la oportunidad de otorgarlo yo a blogs que me gustan tanto como el tuyo, lo he "descubierto" hace poquito pero sabes que te sigo ;)
    Disfrutalo tanto como lo estoy haciendo yo!!!
    BSS

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  2. MARTINE'S BLOG23 April 2013 at 20:30

    Dear Elena, how sweet your comment on my blog. And indeed, I didn't put a link of my blog in my instaprofile.
    Because I am not a very frequent blogster. And my addict is instagram. But I think you already noticed that.
    Well I am definitely going to follow yours. Have a very nice evening. Nice to see you here!
    Sweet greet, Martine

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  3. MARTINE'S BLOG23 April 2013 at 20:33

    And your pinterest file is great, so I follow you there to.
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. facingnorthwithgracia26 April 2013 at 09:32

      Hi Martine!

      Thanks for stopping by, very nice of you. I'm happy you like also my pinterest page! I do understand and share your "affection" for Instagram,too: it's a lovely way to meet lots of nice people that share your same aesthetic perception or love for specific things. :)

      Elena

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