The legend of Sant Jordi dates back centuries and is a fundamental part of Catalan culture. This epic story tells of the courage of a brave knight who faced a fierce dragon to save a princess and an entire town.
According to the legend, in a town called Montblanc, near the Vila, lived a fearsome dragon that terrorized its inhabitants. The townspeople, desperate, tried to appease the beast with all kinds of offerings, but the dragon continued to devour everything and come closer and closer to the city walls.
Faced with this unstoppable threat, the town had to make a tragic decision: to offer human sacrifices to keep the dragon at bay. Thus, each day, a citizen was randomly chosen to be handed over to the dragon as food.
When it was the turn of the king’s daughter, the princess, the whole town was saddened. Despite the king’s pleas, the agreement had to be fulfilled. But at this critical moment, a brave and fearless knight named Sant Jordi appeared. Riding his white horse and with his sword in hand, Sant Jordi challenged the dragon to an epic battle.
With courage and skill, Sant Jordi fought the beast until he finally managed to plunge his sword into the dragon’s heart, ending its reign of terror. From the dragon’s wound emerged a rose, a symbol of new life and of love triumphing over fear.
Sant Jordi rescued the princess and, as a token of his esteem, offered her the rose. With the dragon defeated and the princess safe, the town celebrated with joy the bravery of their hero.
Since then, every April 23rd, Catalans celebrate Sant Jordi’s Day, giving roses as a symbol of love and books in honor of the coincidence with the International Day of the Book. This festival is an opportunity to commemorate the legend and share love and culture with loved ones.
