Commission for the poster for Sant Jordi’s Diada 2025 Premià de Mar

Saint George’s Day, Diada de Sant Jordi, 23 April, is Catalonia’s national day and is a celebration of love and culture,
symbolised by roses and books.

The Festa de Sant Jordi is held across the country on 23^rd April, the day St. George died. He was under the orders of the Roman emperor Diocletian and refused to obey a command to persecute Christians, so he was martyred and decapitated. Very soon he started to be revered as a martyr and fantastical stories about him began to circulate.

The Legend of Sant Jordi: In Montblanc (southern Catalonia), a dragon terrorized the citizens, demanding the daily sacrifice of a person chosen by lot. Misfortune fell upon the princess, but at that moment, Sant Jordi, a brave knight, saved her by defeating the dragon. From the ground where the dragon’s blood fell, a rosebush with red roses grew. Sant Jordi, triumphant, plucked a rose and offered it to the princess.

Giving a book on 23rd April is a later tradition that began in the 1930s to commemorate the death of Miguel de Cervantes (who actually died on 22nd April 1616 but was buried on 23rd April). Curiously enough, there are other world-famous authors who were either born or died on this date, such as William Shakespeare and Josep Pla.

Combining the celebration of Book Day with the Catalan legend, the current tradition of giving a rose and a book is born.

Nowadays, it is usually the man who gives a red rose to the woman, in memory of the victory of that knight over the dragon who saved the princess; while it is usually the woman who gives the man a book,in a necessary effort to bring men closer to culture…

This year I was commissioned by the town council of Premià de Mar, my town, to make the poster for the Diada.

I was very excited to be able to make this poster, I have a lot of appreciation for this day that I have always tried to enjoy. I hope you like the post and if you look closely you will discover some hidden surprises.

I hope you like it and that you receive lots of roses and books