Sant Jordi 2016: Celebrating World Book Day

On April 23 Dupont Circle will be filled with books and roses to recreate the “love for books, books for love” magic of Sant Jordi.

Sant Jordi is a Catalan tradition that combines books and roses to express love. Books and roses stalls are set on the streets of every town in Catalonia. People fill the streets looking for the perfect book gift for their beloved ones –spouses, children and friends. Men also give women roses –“a rose for love and a book forever.”

In modern times, Sant Jordi has evolved into an outdoors popular book fair celebrating literature and promoting reading. Book stores present the latest publications and invite well- known authors to sign books. The scent of roses invites the atmosphere creating a magic of “love for books, books for love.”

Since UNESCO adopted April 23rd as World Book Day, Sant Jordi has also awakened the interest of the international community. World Book Day is now celebrated in more than 50 places all around the world. Cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Paris, Lisbon, and Budapest celebrate Sant Jordi thanks to the organizational efforts of local Catalan communities and institutions dedicated to promoting Catalan culture worldwide.

Book Fair

• From 11 am to 5 pm.

A Rose for Love Festival

• From 11 am to 5 pm.
• Buy your favorite book from the most emblematic bookstores in Washington and get your Sant Jordi rose.

Book drive

• From 11 am to 5 pm.
• Bring your gently used books or buy a new one and donate to Books for America.

Book exchange

• From 11 am to 5 pm.
• Bring those books already read a thousand times and exchange them with others that are brand new to you.

Children activities

• Arts and Crafts, from 11:30 am to 3 pm.
• Children festival (in Catalan), from 3 pm to 5 pm. Children Catalan book exchange, arts and crafts, and Sant Jordi’s legend (storyteller and puppet show.)

Food Amenities

• Food trucks, from 11:30 am to 4 pm.