Okay Twitter followers. It’s time for you to learn about the legend of Sant Jordi (aka St George), a story every catalan grows up reading, writing and singing from their first april 23rd to their last! #SantJordi2020

Legend goes it all happened in the beautiful village of Montblanc (Tarragona). Life was good and happy until one day a horrible dragon decided to terrorize and destroy the village.

Apparently this was the worst dragon you can possibly imagine. Its breath was so nasty it poisoned the air and killed people miles away. The dragon had skills too, it could fly, swim and walk.

The dragon was destroying the village so the king came up with a solution. Every day cattle would be fed to the dragon and in return the dragon would leave the village alone. (Yes, apparently the dragon also had negotiating skills, it’s a legend people )

As it turns out, Montblanc ran out of cattle (shocker ). So they decided that every day they would draw the name of a villager and feed it to the dragon. This went on for days and this is how I imagine all of them:

One day, the name of the princess came out. She was young and beautiful and many volunteered to take her place. However, she was just and bravely accepted her fate, so she went to meet the dragon.

On her way, a mighty knight appeared. His name? You guessed it, JORDI.
He offered to kill the dragon to protect the princess and the whole village (kind of a big quest for someone that is just passing if you ask me ).

Sant Jordi and the dragon fought for a very long time (hours or days, the legend does not specify). Finally the knight struck the dragon under the left wing, close to the heart (that part is specific, I don’t make the rules).

Sant Jordi and the princess brought the dragon back to the village and, HERE IS THE IMPORTANT PART: Where the blood of the dragon was spilled, a bush of roses appeared. The roses were bright red, like the dragon’s blood. Sant Jordi cut one rose and gave it to the princess.

Whether they get married or Sant Jordi goes on his way like nothing ever happened is still debated.
Every April 23rd, to honor the legend of Sant Jordi and the dragon we give our loved ones a book and a rose. It is the most beautiful tradition and I encourage you to join it!