San Jordi - Day Of Book, Roses & Football 2008

** My article below was an old one too written in 2008 soon after I began blogging. But, since the day of book & roses, Sant Jordi's day, takes place every year, there are always new events and stories that are unique for that particular day. It's certainly the case in 2008. So I am re-posting it to add to what happens today this year. **

The long awaited football match with Barca of Barcelona vs the Manchester United from Britain coincided on the day of Sant Jordi here in Spain. The 7000 British footballers and fans landed in Barcelona were very happily surprised, to find themselves right in the middle of hundreds of thousands of books and roses all over the city, including seeing some of these hanging from tree branches in the streets, especially in the city centre where the renowned Rambla is. Countless stalls were set up in most main streets, together with the 5 million roses, singly wrapped in transparent cellophane with colourful ribbon bows, or in bunches for those who wish to buy more than a single one.

Queues are formed in many of these stalls for avid readers to get their favourite authors signature, some were even lucky enough to have a picture taken with him/her. Many of these book fans in some queues carried a rose too, if the author they were waiting the signature for were lady authors. I immediately thought: what do they give to the authors when they are men? Surely can't be a book??

The papers today are full of photos of these football followers, more like party revellers blending in the masses of locals celebrating the big day. Some first timers in the city asked questions like " Is the city always like this? " Are these organised specially for the football match? " (!!). One guy wore a rose on his open-neck shirt until he found out the flowers were supposed to be given to ladies, so he stopped the first pretty brunette he spotted and gave her the red rose, getting a very sweet smile back, and thus grinning happily towards one of the flower seller to buy another couple more!

Mark, 67, a British football fan bought 4o roses in a case (hope he got a discount for bulk buying, as each rose cost 15 € at least for that day) to give to his wife Susan, to mark their 40 years of marriage. She squalled, surprised and delighted, then wrinkled up her nose with simulated apprehension and said " ... When we get back home to England, I guess I would have to buy him a library! ".

 

Tags:football,manchesterunited

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