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Diada de Sant Jordi

Sant Jordi is the best day of the year for Catalan people! It's a tradition celebrated in Catalonia, Spain, where boys give red roses to girls, and girls give books to boys, although nowadays everyone receives anything from anyone! The streets get crowded by people carrying roses and book stalls are everywhere. It's a beautiful day to celebrate love and Catalan culture. This tradition is celebrated every April 23rd, which is also my birthday so it's a win win! The tradition follows a legend that says that many years ago, in a small town in Catalonia called Montblanc, there was a dragon that lived in a cove in the mountains. This dragon ate animals from the town and devoured everything that came across him, so one day, Montblanc's king decided to sacrifice one person every day by doing a contest. Unfortunately, one day the princess was chosen. She went to meet the dragon in his cove, expecting to die instantly, but a handsome knight named Jordi appeared to save her. Jordi stabbed the dragon with a sword, and from the dragon's blood sprouted a beautiful rose, as red as its blood. That's why every year a red rose is gifted!

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