April 23rd is a special day in Catalunya! It’s their version of Valentine’s Day! The tradition is to give your loved ones (family, friends, and sweethearts) a rose and a book to celebrate Sant Jordi, their patron Saint (St. George). The tradition of giving roses is in tribute to the legend of Saint George who saved a small village from a terrible dragon that was terrorizing the princess. After he slayed the dragon, the blood on his sword turned into roses, which he gave to the princess. One of the most famous buildings in Barcelona to visit is the Casa Batlló which was designed by Antonio Gaudi to resemble the scales of the dragon.

Photos courtesy of @mireiacanicio (Markus’s cousin)

Some towns celebrate the slaying of the dragon with a re-enactment and parade down the streets!

 

This year Liz recommends reading A Long Petal of the Sea, by Isabel Allende.

Liz: I’ve always loved Isabel Allende and her artful storytelling ever since I first read her debut novel, House of Spirits. A Long Petal of the Sea is her most recent and 17th novel. The story takes place during the 1930’s Spanish Civil War and follows the refugee flight of a pair of exiles who, thanks to the poet, Pablo Neruda, and his humanitarian efforts, end up in Chile where they are forced to begin a new life. The odyssey that follows is inspired by her own families exile to Venezuela in the 1970’s after the assassination and military coup of her uncle, President Salvador Allende. One of things I loved about this book is the reminder of the magnitude of the human spirit of survival and adaptation to new lands, cultures, and traditions. All that really matters is family and love.

Markus recommends The Dreamt Land, Chasing Water and Dust Across California by Mark Arax

Markus: This book grabbed me by the time I was five pages into it, and didn’t let me go until it spit me out at page 528…It is the story of The Great Central Valley of our beloved California.  More specifically, it details the history of the valley’s immigrants and how they transformed the land, through massive water distribution systems, unparalleled anywhere else in the world to what it is today.  The author, Mark Arax, is a native of Fresno, who has researched his subject very well.  He weaves the human element of loss and immigration, into a reinvention of new place, as people settled this vast and productive fruit basket of the world.  I look forward to reading another book of his soon!

Start a new tradition and celebrate Sant Jordi with us by sharing your book recommendations!

Salut! Liz and Markus