Current location:style >>
Spanish city of Barcelona celebrates day of books and love
style9People have gathered around
IntroductionThousands of people were on the streets of the northeastern Spanish city of Barcelona on Tuesday for ...
Thousands of people were on the streets of the northeastern Spanish city of Barcelona on Tuesday for a local festival that celebrates reading and love that coincides with the World Book Day of the Organization of the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).
The streets of the city, one of Spain's major tourist centers, were filled with local residents and visitors from all over the world who strolled in the spring sunshine browsing the many book and rose stalls set up for the traditional feast day of Saint George (Sant Jordi in Catalan).
Up to seven million roses and almost two million books will be sold throughout the day, according to the forecasts by the respective sectors.
The celebration has its origins in the legend of Saint George, a Roman knight who, it is said, saved a princess from the clutches of a dragon from whose blood a rosebush of red roses sprouted.
From this story, the custom was born about six centuries ago in Catalonia, the region where Barcelona is located, of exchanging roses and books, in a show of affection equivalent to Valentine's Day, but which is also common among family and friends.
"For the book ecosystem here the Day of the Book is fundamental and the chance for independent booksellers like us to go onto the streets and meet people makes it the most important day of the year," said the manager of one of the stands, Lucia Leandro.
The book sector says it expects on this one day to make revenue of more than 22 million euros (23.5 million dollars), an amount that represents around 10 percent of annual sales.
"Everyone is out there on the streets of the city browsing through books, and it is true that we buy a lot of books, but we also have to read them," said Ivan Fernandez, a local resident.
The holiday is also an opportunity for local writers to boost their sales by signing books at the stands.
One of them is Sonia del Campo, who was signing Spanish and Catalan versions of her book "Vidas" at a stand, which delves into topics such as sexist violence or immigration through the story of ten women.
"In other places there are book fairs that can last a week, but here it is one day and it is the day when all the writers come out to sign their books," she told Xinhua.
Proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1995, World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated every April 23 because it was on this day in 1616 that the three great writers, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died.
The theme chosen for this year is "Read Your Way", to highlight the importance of developing a love of reading.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Worldly Waves news portal”。http://unitedarabemirates.unhasdecoradas.org/html-18b699347.html
Related articles
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
styleJERUSALEM (AP) — The helicopter crash in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreig ...
【style】
Read moreIraqi FM meets with Iranian counterpart in Baghdad
style...
【style】
Read moreTurkey vows to retaliate if EU imposes new sanctions
styleTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for F ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
- Malta, Libya pledge to cooperate to save lives at sea
- Highlights of Xi Jinping's Visit to Vietnam
- Key Takeaways from Xi's State Visit to Vietnam
- Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
- NYC paints Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower
Latest articles
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang
Storied apparel retailer Brooks Brothers files for bankruptcy amid pandemic
Insights丨Experts call for a fair reading of China’s prospect
Palmprint recognition payment in Shanghai draws debate
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
Former CDC directors: U.S. politicians undermine CDC unconscionably
LINKS
- '110', '119' Wedding Wins over Netizens
- China's First Suona Ph.D. Student Elevates Musical Instrument Globally
- Schoolgirls Kicking Outdated Attitudes into Touch
- China Wins Two More Gold Medals, Qin Lands Second Breaststroke Title
- Feature: ALS Sufferer Inspires Others with 15,000
- Jiang Wins China's First Golds at Asian Weightlifting Championships
- China's 17
- DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Israel must beware all
- Engineer Plays Vital Role Building Padma Bridge in Bangladesh
- Taikonaut Wang Yaping Sets China's Record for Longest Stay in Space