The Day of Books and Roses occurs on Saint George’s Day, April 23rd, in Spain. The significance derives from two tales. The first tale is of a soldier slaying a dragon, and from the dragon’s blood grew a rose bush. The soldier picked the most beautiful rose for the princess, which is where the roses of Books and Roses Day come from. The second tale starts with a writer’s proposal for a Book Day. While Book Day was originally celebrated in October, it was later merged with the Rose Fair to coincide with the death anniversaries of legendary writers like Shakespeare. Together, these two tales have become Books and Roses Day.
This is one of the most notable celebrations in Catalan culture, as it is widely celebrated today by people gathering on sidewalks to exchange both books and roses. In honor of this tradition, we’ve put together a list of stories, some with dragons, some with love and flowers, and some based in Spain. Check out the full list below and enjoy!
