There is still time to return to the pre-pandemic Sant Jordi diada, when it was difficult to walk along La Rambla, Rambla Catalunya, and Paseo de Gràcia, squeezed among all those who wanted to find a book and a rose or, simply, stroll. But this Friday will be a little closer to experiencing it again, more than last year, when the lockdown prevented any kind of celebration in the streets.
"Sant Jordi is back," defended the president of the Catalan Book Chamber, Patrici Tixis, at the press conference to explain the organization that will make it possible. For Tixis, being able to once again enjoy the book and rose stalls, respecting all necessary security measures, symbolizes a step forward in overcoming the coronavirus crisis.
Book and flower stalls for three days
This year, Sant Jordi will begin on Wednesday 21 and will last until Friday 23. For three days, the city's bookstores and florists will be able to set up a stall in front of their establishments, with the intention of decongesting purchases and avoiding crowds. In fact, bookstores have already begun to detect early book purchases, according to the president of the Catalan Booksellers' Guild, Maria Carme Ferrer.
Likewise, only professionals will be able to set up stalls, with no spaces for the associations and entities that used to join the celebration. There will be 490 points where Barcelonans can purchase in advance the books and roses they wish to give as gifts. Of these, 90 will be bookstores and the rest florists.
Outdoor and perimeter-controlled spaces
But that won't be all. On Sant Jordi day, a total of 11 outdoor and perimeter-controlled spaces will be set up in Barcelona, where there will be both flower and book stalls as well as traditional author signings. To access, one must wear a mask and use hydroalcoholic gel. The route will be one-way, the stalls will be separated by a distance of more than two meters, and the capacity cannot exceed 30% of the maximum capacity. The hours will be from 9:00 to 20:00, taking into account the curfew.
Specifically, to decentralize the celebration, these spaces will be located in Paseo de Gràcia, paseo Lluís Companys, Jardinets de Gràcia, plaza Reial, plaza de Valdívia, plaza de la Vila, plaza de Sarrià, Jardins Centelles del Palau Macaya, plaza Universitat, plaza Orfila and the area between La Rambla and Pallars, Llacuna and Pujades streets in Poblenou. In total, they will have 180 book and rose stalls, with 31 spaces for signings. The Booksellers' Guild will detail the times and places where writers can be found on its website.
Sales forecasts
The book sector aims to reach 60% of 2019 sales. Two years ago, Sant Jordi's day meant the sale of a total of 1.5 million books, as detailed by Tixis.
On the other hand, the president of the Florists' Guild, Joan Guillén, has indicated that they expect to sell between 3.5 and 4 million roses and generate about ten million euros, half of the figures recorded two years ago. It will benefit them that only professionals in the field can have stalls, but Guillén has warned that there will not be as many roses as in other years because the main producers, Colombia and Ecuador, have been affected by a storm. For this reason, he has advised reserving roses to avoid running out. The Florists' Guild has enabled a website to consult which will be the nearest stores that will work for Sant Jordi.
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