Sant Jordi goes global: books and roses from York to New York
Worldwide celebrations of Catalan culture and literature with 300 events in 200 cities
Catalonia is the place to be on April 23, when the streets fill with people browsing for books and roses on La Diada de Sant Jordi, Saint George's Day.
But there is good news for those elsewhere who are looking to join in the celebrations for Catalonia's most romantic day of the year, with at least 325 Sant Jordi events planned in 192 cities in 29 countries around the world.
From poetry readings to human towers, free roses to children's games, various events organized by the delegations of the Catalan government abroad, the Ramon Llull Institute, and Catalan communities living overseas can all be found on booksandroses.cat, with more set to be added in the coming days.
"Sant Jordi brings the Catalan language and culture around the world," foreign minister Mertixell Serret told Catalan News at a presentation event organized by the government, Diplocat, and the Ramon Llull Institute in Barcelona on Monday.
Diplocat general secretary Laura Foraster explained that the organization has gathered together the various events happening to produce an online map, with the celebrations classified by country, date, and event type.
"The selling of books and roses is the most common event." Foraster told Catalan News.
"We also have small-scale reproductions of Saint George's Day, with cultural events organized together with the selling of books and roses, events related to gastronomy with tastings of Catalan dishes, and also events for kids – representations of the legend of Saint George and the dragon," she added.
"Then we have other events like literary readings and other types of events more related to Catalan literature translated into other languages," Foraster said.
Read on for some Catalan News picks of Sant Jordi celebrations around the world.
Europe
Sant Jordi Berlin 2024 | Berlin
Berlin is home to some of the most exciting events for Sant Jordi 2024, not least at the former brewery Kulturbrauerei, where there's a diverse program that takes words, thoughts and music as a starting point to bring together German and Catalan culture. Expect debate, poetry reading and a concert by Lleona. There are also several other events happening throughout the German capital, including an appearance from the Castellers de Berlin.
When: April 21
Where: Knaackstraße 97, Kulturbrauerei, 10435 Berlin, Germany
#BooksAndRoses| Dublin
Celebrate Sant Jordi in the Irish capital with a vibrant display of roses, books, poems, and the lively rhythms of rumba catalana, organized by Casal Català d’Irlanda (the Catalan community in Ireland).
When: April 19
Where: The Bernard Shaw, Cross Guns Bridge, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Books and Roses | Edinburgh
The Scottish capital celebrates Sant Jordi with a day of puppets and storytelling for children, second-hand books, roses, a literary open mic, and a human towers performance from the Colla Castellera d'Edinburgh.
When: April 21, from 3pm
Where: St Peter's Community Hall, Edinburgh, EH8 9PE
Festival of Books and Roses in The Blue House Bookshop | York
Catalonia's Sant Jordi celebrations come to York for the first time, with still-life drawing classes (focusing on roses), talks and readings by local writers, and a goody bag with a book and a rose to take home.
When: April 19
Where: Blue House Bookshop, 10 Bootham, York, YO30 7BL
#BooksAndRoses | London
Come to Camden Market Hawley and join the #BooksAndRoses spirit in London, with books, roses and the performances of the London Catalan Choir and the Castellers (Catalan human towers) of London.
When: April 21
Where: Camden Market Hawley, London NW1 8QH
North America
Books and Roses | Toronto
The TOCAT – Catalans a Toronto (Catalan Community in Toronto) will have a stand in Christie Pits Park. Books to exchange and for sale, as well as roses and some snacks too.
When: April 27
Where: 750 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 3K4, Canada
Sant Jordi in NYC | New York
Hybrid celebration starting on April 24 on the Sant Jordi USA's website and continuing on April 25-27 at the Out of the Box theater in New York. A collection of readings with musical interludes, artistic projections, and tastings of Catalan cuisine. The Three Lives & Company, McNally-Jackson, and Left Bank Books bookstores located in the theater area will participate in the celebration by distributing roses and bookmarks on April 26 and 27.
When: April 24-27
Where: 154 Christopher St #1E, New York, NY 10014
South America
Paella Catalana | Rosario, Argentina
The Catalan community in Rosario, Argentina, will organize a Paella meal at their local, with the opportunity to enjoy a day full of activities to celebrate Sant Jordi.
When: April 21
Where: Centre Català, Entre Ríos 761, S2000 Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Asia
Books and Roses | Seoul
Book exhibitions, presentations about Catalonia and Barcelona, wine and gastronomic tastings and many other activities.
When: April 20-21
Where: Donuimun Museum Village 14-3 Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu
Sant Jordi 2024 | Tokyo
The Casal Català Tokyo – Catalan Community in Tokyo – together with the Catalan government delegation to Japan and the Associació Japonesa d’Amistat amb Catalunya – Japanese Friendship Association with Catalonia (JFAC), are organizing a day full of activities, exchange, music and lots of fun.
When: April 20, from 1pm
Where: 1-chōme-22-3 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051
Africa
The legend of Saint George | Tunis
The Catalan government delegation in North Africa collaborates with the French Institute of Tunisia at its stand at the Tunis International Book Fair. A workshop for children will be organized with Sonia Bensalem to introduce the little ones to the legend of Sant Jordi and the dragon.
When: April 21
Where: Le Cram Exhibition Parc, Tunis, Tunisia
