Several stories have been attached to Saint George,the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode and killed the dragon with a single blow with his lance.
Here in Spain the old legend has inspired to
create Sant Jordi's Day as a Catalan version of Valentine's day. On this day men in Cataluña give their sweethearts a red rose, and
in recent years a new tradition is that the ladies give the men a book.
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