Catalans celebrate St George Day with roses and books

Barcelona

RED roses and books flooded the streets of Barcelona as Spain's Catalonia region celebrated its patron saint on Sunday, with a tradition which is vying for a place on a prestigious UN list.

Every April 23 on the day of Sant Jordi, or St George, people in the wealthy northeastern region give each other a rose or a book in a celebration of love and culture.

Originally the tradition involved men giving their love a rose, while she in return would give him a book. But it has evolved and today women also receive books and flowers are given as well to mothers, daughters, friends and even co-workers. Throngs of people browsed book and fl…