Streets brimming with life on first post-pandemic Sant Jordi with no restrictions

The first post-pandemic Sant Jordi with no restrictions – and no rain like last year – has proven to be an absolute success, with thousands upon thousands of people taking to the streets of cities and towns across Catalonia to make the most of the Catalan day of books, roses and, of course, romance.

The Barcelona city center, for one, did not take long to fill up with people in search of the perfect book and rose to gift their loved ones, and by 10:30 am it was already tricky to walk through parts of Passeig de Gràcia boulevard and the surrounding streets that make up the pedestrianized 'literary superblock' lined with book and rose vendors. 

"Really special for Catalans"

"It is really special for Catalans," said Nàdia, a Barcelona native who was out for a stroll with her husband and two young daughters on this rare Sunday Sant Jordi. Her youngest daughter, Mariona, had flowers painted across the side of her face, and all four of them were holding fresh roses for the occasion. 

"For us, it is a holiday - everybody goes to the street, enjoys it with family, there are roses and books and a lot of love!" she laughed. 

Júlia, who was selling roses nearby on Rambla de Catalunya boulevard, concurred: "In other countries, everybody celebrates Valentine's Day, but for me, Sant Jordi is one of the best holidays in the year because you give the person you love a book or a rose." 

Sant Jordi in Barcelona first-timers

Maria from Palma de Mallorca told Catalan News that this was her first time in Barcelona for Sant Jordi, a holiday she said she had long wanted to experience in the Catalan capital.

Although the Balearic Islands native celebrates Sant Jordi in her hometown, according to her "there are many more people, more book stalls, and a lot more famous authors" in Barcelona than in Palma. "In my town, it's not like that," she explained.

Others, like Eva, an exchange student from Paris, were taking in the magical day for the first time ever. "It's really beautiful, and there are a lot of people," she said surrounded by a group of friends, all Sant Jordi first-timers.

"Everyone's really happy to be here and buying roses and books," she added. Eva, who did not have a book or rose in hand when talking to Catalan News, said she was still hoping to find "the good ones" for her and her friends.  

Writers who "feel like rock stars"

If there ever was a day for a writer to have the same effect on a crowd as, say, Justin Bieber or the latest K-pop sensation, it would definitely be Sant Jordi. 

By far the most crowded parts of Barcelona's Sant Jordi superblocks were right beside the stalls where throngs of people lined up to get their books signed by both local and international literary sensations, from Robin Sharma to Rocío Quillahuaman, Marta Orriols, Javier Cercas, or even Pedro Almodóvar.

"We're both a little bit shocked in a very good way," Swedish Nordic noir writer Camilla Läckberg told Catalan News of the warm reception she and 'Box' co-author Henrik Fexeus had received. "We feel like rock stars here."

"I think we will perhaps think a bit too much of ourselves after this day," Fexeus chimed in. "This is insane, this is extraordinary."