Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Josep L. Guallar-Esteve" <jlguallar AT maduixa.net>]

Diada de Sant Jordi

Today is "San Jordi", or Saint George's day . Sant Jordi is the(Saint patron 
of Catalonia. 

Today, for me and for my fellow Catalans, is 4th of July mixed with 
Valentine's Day. Yes, today you'll see the people in Barcelona buying roses  
**and books** for their lovers.

The legend says that long time ago, in Montblanc, a Catalan city, a knight in 
shining armour (Sant Jordi) went and rescued a woman from the bad, bad dragon 
that was about to eat her. Saint Valentine, observing this act of valour, 
decided that Catalans could celebrate that day as their "lovers day" (?? that 
is, like Valentine's day here). 

History says that after a battle (1094) won by calling "by Sant Jordi!!", the 
Catalan king Pere I, named Sant Jordi the patron of Catalan Knights and 
Nobleman. In time, with the end of the Catalan royal lineage on S.XV, Sant 
Jordi become the patron of all Catalans.

Also, April 23rd is the day that Josep Pla (a great Catalan writer), Miguel 
de 
Cervantes and William Shakespeare passed away. 

Add the legend, the King action and the April 23rd thing and there you go, 
you 
have a Valentine's Day + Buy a Book Day + "4th of July".

So, if you know any Catalan, tell him/her today "Bona Diada de Sant Jordi!" 
or 
"Good Saint George's Day".




Salut i Bona Diada,
Josep Lluis
-- 
Josep L. Guallar-Esteve, QA-Test Engineer, Red Hat, Inc.
http://www.ibiblio.org/sinner/