Festival of Books and Roses

Sant Jordi Festival of Books and Roses

Come join us at The Blue House Bookshop for an evening filled with literary magic and blooming roses! This event celebrates the legend of Saint George (Sant Jordi) who as well as being the patron Saint of England is also the patron Saint of Catalan. Since the 15th century Sant Jordi day has been a celebration of love and gratitude and this has grown into the books and roses festival in Barcelona today, where books and roses are exchanged as gifts.

Throughout the evening we will have a roses themed bookmark making class in the attic, talks and readings by local writers and publishers(TBC) and you'll have the chance to browse through a wide selection of books, meet local authors, and immerse yourself in the joy of reading. You'll get a goody bag at the end of the night which includes: a book; a rose and some other goodies! You'll also have the opportunity to buy a few discounted books for a friend, family member or lover - as is part of the tradition of the day.

In 1995 some Catalan publishers approached UNESCO and the date 23rd April was proclaimed World Book and Copyright Day. The festival has spread across the world since then and there are various celebrations throughout Europe - but we are the first official one in York as of last year, 2024.

The 23rd April is also seen as a symbolic day for world literature because it is also the date of birth or death for many writers including: William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, Maurice Druon, Haldor K. Laxness, Ngaio Marsh, Vladimir Nabakov, Victoria Glendinning, Joseph Pla, Teresa de la Parra, P. L. Travers and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.

This will be an evening of culture, community, and creativity that you won't want to miss. See you there!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Blue House Bookshop, 10 Bootham, York, United Kingdom