Lover's Day and World Book Day

I love Barcelona/Catalonia even more. Today is "Lovers' Day" and "World Book Day," or La Diada de San Jordi (St. Georges Day). It is the largest festival and a widely celebrated day in Barcelona. It is to celebrate love and literacy. People give books and roses to loved one on this day in Barcelona. It's similar to Valentines Day in the US, but it focuses on intelligence not just lovey dovey stuff.

Apparently, St. George killed a dragon to save a princess and out of the dragon's blood a rose bush blossomed. He picked the most beautiful of roses from the bush and gave it to the princess. This the reason roses are the favored flower to give on this day and Valentine's day.

World Book Day began in the 20th Century and commemorates the simultaneous deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare in 1616. More than 4 million roses and half a million books are sold on this day in Catalonia.