Big occasions are typically made up of a large number of small issues. Proust mentioned it, or might have mentioned it. But if it wasn’t him, certainly it was completed by one of many a whole bunch of authors (nearly 250 from giant teams alone) who gathered right this moment to signal their works in Barcelona and all of Catalonia on the event of Sant Jordi’s Day, the day of the e-book and the rose (with out forgetting the dragon), which as soon as once more was a document. The day, resplendent with solar and gross sales, has handed with out notable incidents in order that we should discuss with the additionally golden pollen that the wind has thrown into the faces of the walkers, to the exasperation of these with allergic reactions, and to these annoying winged and furry seeds of the banana timber that fell constantly like a snowfall and went straight to your throat. To relate what occurs on such a rare day however so tough to objectify would require a thousand pairs of eyes and a whole bunch of voices. The streets have as soon as once more develop into a sea of books and flowers, a kaleidoscope wherein the experiences of the numerous walkers are atomized, appearing as a contented self-moving backyard, each clinging to his rose and wielding it as a public declaration of belonging and love.
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has exactly spoken about love in an uncommon manner, within the first act of the day, the institutional breakfast for writers that tries to provide them energy, based mostly on the already well-known whispers municipal, cream chuchos, for the lengthy day of signatures and mental communion with readers. After greeting the day diplomatically as an awesome day of Catalan tradition, e-book day y of the patron saint of Catalonia Sant Jordi (with which everybody was completely happy after the overwrought response of part of Junts as a result of boutade by Eduardo Mendoza about separating each celebrations), the mayor has included love within the equation, as if he have been complicated Sant Jordi with Valentine’s Day. It is true that the long-lasting picture of this version of the celebration has been a pair in love, him in a T-shirt and holding a rose and she or he, or he or it, dressed as a inexperienced dragon with a e-book in her lap.
Curiously moved, Collboni careworn that it’s thrilling to clarify what is going on this present day in Catalonia and that it doesn’t occur wherever else on the earth. And what occurs is {that a} metropolis like Barcelona is full of books and roses and individuals who stroll them in an “absolutely romantic” ambiance. Among probably the most heard phrases among the many crowd, definitely, that nice declaration of affection: “Let’s see if I can find a book for you.”
Be that as it could, it’s a incontrovertible fact that Sant Jordi and the e-book, past controversy, have as soon as once more demonstrated an everlasting love for one another. This is confirmed by the glad faces of booksellers, editors and authors. The very lengthy strains to acquire the signature of Joël Dicker (bounded with obstacles like a live performance), Ana Milan and her pink Dancing it off or Mendoza himself, with a studying and certainly vindictive dragon (, Sant Jordi who abuses animals) on his lapel. And the success can also be demonstrated by information akin to the truth that the books by Pedro Almodóvar and David Uclés, undoubtedly two of probably the most requested signatories, have been already bought out on the Finestres bookstore at 11 within the morning.
The day has as soon as once more had its protest half, as a speaker for probably the most numerous causes, together with end-of-year journeys that could possibly be mentioned to be an extinct exercise. Among these causes, on the high, is that of the writers persecuted in several nations and to whom Barcelona offers refuge. “Literature is not only beauty but courage,” the mayor summarized along with this yr’s speaker Ali Smith.
The love of the dyad has not reached not less than one municipal consultant: a bunch of librarians demonstrated in opposition to the cuts and closures within the libraries carrying masks with the face of the Councilor for Culture Xavier Marcé, who in the meantime was consuming whisper oblivious to the protest. The theaters have taken the chance to hitch the celebration: “a book, a rose and a play” they proclaimed on the Poliorama.
One of probably the most thrilling moments of the day is when the writers, spurred on by the mayor, rush out of breakfast to go to the cubicles the place they’ll signal. The factor has one thing of these nice moments of the cinematic epic such because the harangue of Gladiator or that of Al Pacino to his gamers in any given sunday (“inch by inch”). From then on, the writers embark on an actual problem to achieve their signature factors and run from one to the opposite, which lets you meet all of them day transferring by means of the gang. Like Julia Navarro, enthusiastic in regards to the ambiance. Or Espido Freire, along with his Guide to locations that now not exist beneath the arm and possibly probably the most lovely and related costume of the day, with a physique of white roses. Many tales within the ocean of them from the day. Almanzor appeared to wink on the Edhasa sales space on Emma Lira’s shoulder. The Egyptian Museum sales space had develop into the oasis of Siwa with Tito Vivas, José Miguel Parra and Maixaxa Taulé herself stamping their signatures. A reader requested an writer who signed his identify in Laie with a salacot to dedicate the e-book to her with the enigmatic phrase: “For Esther, who was bitten by a lion.”
Writers, readers, literary genres and tastes have blended with the identical promiscuity because the pigeons, parrots and starlings that spent the day amazed within the flowerbeds of Plaza de Catalunya. Once once more, the signing authors have discovered themselves with the shocking expertise of fraternizing with their readers, who requested for signatures, selfies and even recommendation. “Can I put a real person speaking in a novel? Will he sue me?” a lady requested a author. Fortune has introduced collectively individuals who signed rather a lot with others who did little: it’s a trance that’s lived as one can. Very laborious to take a seat subsequent to a twenty-year-old lady who has already written a trilogy and indicators it like hotcakes. But the expertise of being there may be all the time constructive: “This is my second Sant Jordi, the first made me think that I am a real writer,” Manuel Marlasca, writer of You dance and I shoot.
To spotlight within the midst of the morass of stimuli of the day was the resounding message that a big poster on a lollipop proclaimed: “This Sant Jordi a rose and a powder.” That’s additionally going to be love.
https://elpais.com/cultura/2026-04-23/sant-jordi-y-el-libro-se-profesan-amor-eterno.html