Books and roses, 23 April

 

Tomorrow is the 23rd of April - a very special day in Catalonia. The Catalans’ Patron Saint happens to be Saint Jordi (or George in English). Yes, the guy who killed the dragon. Apparently Jordi was a Roman soldier born in Palestine in the 3rd century AD who later converted to Christianity. Although the first documented writings of the dragon incident state that it happened in Libya, the Catalans believe it actually happened in the town of Montblanc in Catalonia. They may have a point as I can vouch that there are definitely no dragons currently living in Montblanc. Jordi finished the dragon off with his lance, and from the wound the dragon’s blood spilled out and amazingly turned into a beautiful red rose.

Nowadays in dragon-free Catalonia, it is customary to walk the streets on this day with family, with a friend, partner, or alone... Meeting friends, having a coffee (or beer), and, above-all, browsing at the multitude of open-air book stalls set out everywhere, as the Catalans celebrate this day by giving books and roses to their lovers/partners/friends or buying a bag of books for themselves!  Who doesn't like roses and books?! It is a wonderful, cultural celebration which really has to be seen - or lived - to understand completely. There are many public poetry recitals, book-readings and concerts today too alongside other literary events. 

Many countries have also tried to introduce this idea of a “book giving day”, and in 1995 UNESCO declared 23rd April to be World Book Day (even though, for reasons better known to themselves, the UK celebrates its “World” Book Day in March!). This date has many literary connections. Cervantes was born, and died, on the 23rd April, and Shakespeare also died on this date – but as the English and Spanish used different calendars back then, these “23rd”s were not exactly the same day, if that makes sense!

Wrapped up in books - Belle & Sebastian #SantJordi

So today is Saint Jordi's Day once more. That means Books and Roses galore in Catalonia! By far the most beautiful traditional celebration I have seen during my short time in this world -  if you don't know what I'm talking about click here for last year's info!

Anyway, this celebration is also taking off in other parts of the world and this weekend as part of this, and the ongoing cause to show to the world that Catalans are normal peace-loving folk, not a nasty greedy bunch of nationalists, the Catalans have hit London.

Here they are building their famous "human towers", and here's a video about the book fair in Borough Market.

And here's a hip song :)

2 anys a Tannu Tuva, el conte del Mussol i La Cançó de l'Alba

El 23 d’abril és un dia molt important, per molta gent, i no sempre pels motius evidents ... A petita escala també avui celebro dos anys des de que vaig començar aquest bloc. Els numeros em diuen que he rebut uns 20.000 visites en aquell temps, de una varietat de llocs que fa esgarrifar, i he penjat uns 520 apunts, amb més de 500 cançons. Fins a quan durarà? No sé, anem pas a pas, ja que cada dia hi ha més feina, més “jocs” per perdre el temps amb la xarxa, i més temps necessari pel família.

Per celebrar-ho, una petita joia de musica en català. La Cançó de l’Alba dels Bedroom – i un video molt bonic.

I un altre conte típic d’un país petit i llunya, anomenat Tannu Tuva

Per que el mussol no va acabar mai de fer el seu niu.

Hi havia una vegada que un Mussol gris vivia en un bosc frondós i verdós. Aquest Mussol era tan dropo que ni volava d’arbre en arbre. Es quedava sempre al mateix.
Un dia, estava dormint damunt d’una branca quan un Picapins ve arribar i va començar a picar a l’arbre. El Mussol es va despertar, emprenyat, i va cridar:
- Per que fas tant de soroll? M’has despertat!
- No veus – li va contestar el Picapins, sorprès – estic menjant.
- No pots buscar-te un altre lloc? – crida el Mussol.
- Tots tenim tantes coses que fer, només ets tu que no vols fer res – li diu el Picapins, i marxa volant.

El Mussol no va tardar gaire en tornar a adormir-se, però de sobte va sentir el soroll d’una Garsa.
El Mussol li maldava, però la Garsa no tenia por, i li va contestar :
- Per que sempre estàs dormint? Mira! Els ocells tenen massa feina per a dormir, tots busquen menja o fan els nius.
Abans de que el Mussol li puguis dir res més, la Garsa va marxar per a xafardejar en els companys.

Com podeu imaginar, just al moment que el Mussol tornava a estar còmode, va arribar un altre ocell, una Mallerenga. Buscava cosetes per construir el seu niu.
El Mussol va quedar quiet una estona, mirant com els altres ocells i els insectes treballaven, i pensava – un dia em posaré a treballar també, que he de fer el niu.
Va caure la nit, feia fresca. El Mussol tremolava i per molt que intentava, no podia escalfar-se. Només pensava en el calents i acollidors que deuen ser els nius que havien fet els altres ocells.

Aquella nit semblava eterna. Llarga i gelada, i el Mussol, plantat allí a la branca pensava que moriria. Però per fi, el sol va sortir i va començar a repartir calor. El Mussol, per fi, es sentia calentet i bé, i es va adormir.
I, així, un dia seguia un altre, una nit rere una altra, i el Mussol no es va arribar mai a fer un niu.

Two years celebrated with a Tale and a Magical Song

(En dos parts, avuí en anglès, demà en català) Tomorrow, 23rd April is Saint George’s Day – known in Catalan as Sant Jordi (their patron saint). The legend has it that here in Catalonia he also killed a dragon to save a princess. And where the dragon’s blood soaked into the ground, a rose grew. This day is very significant for Catalans and enjoys a wonderful celebration which has to be the envy of other nations – people buy books!

Tradition has it that boys and men buy roses for girls and women, while they offer a book in return. But obviously books and roses abound, be what may the people’s sex. Book stores are open all day with outdoor stands showing an infinite choice of wonders. People flood the streets, up and down all day, stopping off for a coffee, or beer, before continuing their family strolls in this magnificent peaceful cultural celebration – all topped off with public poetry readings or book presentations. A “festa” worth exporting.

So there I was setting this blog up on the 22nd April 2009, after a few dry runs in previous days, but things got more complicated than expected, time flies, and by pure chance it was the early hours of the 23rd when the blog was born! Two years can be summarised in numbers, about 20,000 visits, from far too many nations to mention, 520 entries, with over 500 songs.

Getting back to the origins, here’s another Tale from a far-off country called Tannu Tuva (with home-baked Catalan translation tomorrow).

Once upon a time there lived a grey Owl in a thick green forest. The Owl was so lazy that she even didn't bother to fly from one tree to another.
One warm day she was fast asleep in a larch-tree when a Woodpecker flew up quite near and began pecking this very tree. The Owl woke up, shook her crumpled wings and asked in a sleepy voice: ``Why are you so noisy? You awoke me, wicked Woodpecker!''
``Can't you see?'' answered the Woodpecker, looking at her in amazement with his eyes, as small as millet grains, ``I am feeding myself.''
``Can't you find another place? Get lost!'' cried the Owl.
``Everybody has so much to do, only you are idle all the time,'' said the Woodpecker and flew away.

The Owl had settled comfortably on her branch and almost fell asleep again when she heard the dreadful noise the Magpie made, chattering just near her.
The Owl scolded the Magpie but in vain. The Magpie was not afraid and answered arrogantly: ``Why are you always sleeping? Look around! All the bird are far too busy to sleep. Some are feeding their nestlings, others collecting bedding for their nests.''
Before the Owl had time to answer her, the Magpie flew away to the forest to listen to local gossip which she loved dearly.

The Owl was at the point of falling asleep once again when she heard somebody flying just over her head. It turned out to be the small Tomtit who was busy collecting poplar down for her nest.
The Owl watched for some time the birds flying, grasshoppers chirping, swarms of midges buzzing, She felt somewhat ashamed and thought: ``I'll get around to building my nest one day.''
Night fell. There was quite a nip in the air. The Owl shivered and tried to get warm pressing her wings tight to her body. She remembered the Tomtit's warm nest. She wished she could sleep in such a nest.

The night seemed very long and cold. Even the eyes of hundreds of stars in the sky looked frozen and dim. The Owl felt she would die of cold while waiting for the crack of dawn. The sun rose at last and everything got warm. The Owl felt snug and warm and fell asleep.
That is how one day followed the other but the lazy Owl never built her nest.

(Translation into English from Friends of Tuva)

A song, a classic, words cannot do it justice, Stevie Nicks with Beauty and the Beast.

(Who wrote) The Book of Love - The Monotones

Demà, dia 23 d’abril, és el primer aniversari del bloc. És un dia especial per molta gent. Però, començar aquest bloc el dia de Sant Jordi va ser una pura casualitat. El fet és que portava dies fent proves, i el 22 d’abril ja estava a punt per penjar-ho, i quan em vaig adonar, ja havia passat mitjanit i .... el resto és historia!

Entre llibres, roses i altres gestos romàntics, la cançó no podria ser altre que (Who Wrote) The Book Of Love (Davis/Malone/Patrick) dels The Monotones, de l’any 1958. Qui va escriure el llibre de l’amor?

Tomorrow is the 23rd April - a very special day in Catalonia. The Catalans’ Patron Saint happens to be Saint Jordi (or George in English), you know, the guy who killed the dragon. On this day it is customary to walk the streets with your family looking at the open-air book stalls set out this day, as the Catalans celebrate this day by giving books and roses to their lovers/partners. Tradition dictates books for men and roses for women, though many men give both a book and a rose to their “better half”. It is an extremely beautiful, cultural and peaceful celebration. As such, many countries have also tried copying this idea of a “book giving day”, and in 1995 UNESCO declared 23rd April to be World Book Day (even though, for reasons better known to themselves, the UK celebrates its “World” Book Day in March!).

Cervantes was born and died on the 23rd April, and Shakespeare also died on this date – but as the English and Spanish used different calendars back then, these “23rd”s were not exactly the same day, if that makes sense!
Click here for more info.
This blog started out one year ago, on St Jordi’s Day 2009, but it was a pure coincidence even though it is such an important date here. After days of experimenting with the idea, on the night of the 22nd the first post was ready but, as is usual with computers, it took longer than expected and the next thing we knew we were in the early hours of the 23rd!

Anyway, for a song .... books, romantic gestures, .... what about the Monotones with (Who Wrote) The Book of Love (Davis/Malone/Patrick) from 1958?