Today, April 23rd 2010, is "El Día de Sant Jordi" ... Saint George's Day in Catalunya. It's kind of like Valentine's Day in North America but more traditional (aka not so commercialized).
Sant Jordi is the patron Saint of Catalunya, and also happens to be the patron Saint of England! It comes from a legend that says Sant Jordi went to fight against a dragon for his princess. He killed the dragon and from its blood came a rose which he brought back and gave to his princess. So now the tradition on El Día de Sant Jordi is that men give women roses... however to also commemorate the death of Shakespeare and Cervantes (a Spanish writer) who both died on the same day (April 23rd), women are suppose to give men a book. So now Sant Jordi day has translated into a day where men and women exchange roses and books.
My Sant Jordi day started off with my friends and I at La Champañería for lunch, where we devoured (once again) delicious hamburgers and even better pink champagne. There we met two fabulous gay guys, Lars from Amsterdam (who is also a male model...very cute), and Bence from Hungrary (who owns a makeup artist shop in London, England). We started chatting with them about Barcelona and living here etc. They were both really nice and hilarious. Then after we finished our lunch they joined us as we walked up Las Ramblas to see the beautiful stands of roses and books for Sant Jordi day. On our way to Las Ramblas Lars and I listened to Lady Gaga on his ipod as we walked and were singing and dancing in the streets... haha, I love how global Lady Gaga is and you can totally bond with a person over her music. While walking around almost every person in Barcelona today either had a rose or book in their hand to give to their special someone. It was so cute, and really cool to be able to experience and witness this important day in Barcelona. We walked into La Boqueria to get some fruit and chocolate to take to the beach with us. Which is where we headed afterwards. Then myself, our new gay friends, Liz and her spanish Boy Carlos all sat on the beach drinking cava, eating fruit and basking in the sunshine by the sea. ahhh life is good in barcelona. <3
No comments:
Post a Comment