Celebrate an unforgettable Sant Jordi's Day in Rossini

We have all heard the legend of Sant Jordi, the story where a dragon threatened an entire kingdom and caused endless trouble for its inhabitants. The dragon followed a varied diet: animals, people, basically anything. Until, by lottery, it was the king's daughter's turn.

The princess walked sadly to the dragon's lair. But as luck would have it, the knight Sant Jordi was nearby and heard the princess's cries. He drew his sword and rescued the young lady from the clutches of the beast. Legend has it that a field of red roses grew from the dragon's blood. Oh, and the knight married the princess.

The origins of this legend are inspired by Saint George, a Roman soldier hardened in countless battles who became famous for his military feats. He was executed for his religious beliefs during the Christian persecution in 303 A.D.

Although Sant Jordi is recognized as the patron saint of Catalonia, he has been adapted as an equivalent of "Valentine's Day." This association is mainly due to a 15th-century tradition where roses were given to a betrothed woman as an offering. Later, inspired by Els Jocs Florals, women began giving books to men.

As a fun fact, April 23rd coincides with the death dates of two great writers: Shakespeare and Cervantes.

In Catalonia, it is customary during the days leading up to Sant Jordi for schools and other cultural organizations in the city to hold poetry and narrative contests and recitals. Els Jocs Florals began in 1859 as a cultural movement to enrich Catalan linguistic heritage.

Historically, they were a direct consequence of national movements like the Renaixença, which aimed to exalt Catalan culture.

The story of the Greek hero Perseus has many similarities with the legend of Sant Jordi. It’s a tale that shares numerous parallels: a princess in distress, a distant kingdom in trouble, a slain dragon/gorgon, and a reward for salvation.

According to various studies, this legend may have been transferred during the Christianization of Cappadocia, where one of the pagan Phrygian gods, Sabacius, was often depicted fighting a serpent on horseback.

Thanks to his example of bravery and chivalry, he was adopted as the patron saint of several knightly orders such as the Order of the Garter, the Teutonic Order, the Order of Calatrava, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order, and the Order of St. George of Alfama...

The Casa Batlló in Barcelona is one of Gaudí's most important works, and its unique architecture embodies different elements of the legend of Sant Jordi. If you look closely at the facade, you’ll notice:

• The roof and its tiles, which resemble dragon scales.
• The four-armed cross above, symbolizing the knight's sword.
• The skull-like balconies, representing the dragon’s victims.
• The rose balcony, symbolizing the princess.

Inside, you can find many more curiosities, such as the house’s columns that mimic the belly of a dragon or whale and a staircase shaped like a reptilian tail.