Traditional tokens of a book and a rose were awarded to three Arcadia in Barcelona students on Sant Jordi Day, April 23, in recognition of their entries for “the most beautiful word in Spanish” competition held at the Arcadia University Center for Catalan, Spanish and Mediterranean Studies. Students at all levels of Spanish study in The College of Global Studies participated in the contest.

Sant Jordi’s (St. George’s) Day commemorates the Patron Saint of Barcelona. Sant Jordi is said to have slain a dragon from whose bloodshed a rose bloomed. The saint’s day falls, coincidentally, on World Book Day, which memorializes the date upon which both Cervantes and Shakespeare died in 1616. On this day, the men of Barcelona give their sweethearts a rose; and the women, in return, present their gentlemen with a book. Read more.