Saints and Olives

 It is a day of saints and olives.  The olives are provided by the countryside, the saint, by the day.


We will go near the Estacion de Valjunquera. It is one of those crumbling and abandoned things on a rural line which has transformed from an occasional provider of trundling happiness to another long distance path for happy walkers to look at tumble down stations.  The place has 39 reviews and an average 4.1 stars.  Most recently OdiseaDron summed it up with ‘Place to visit with the bt bike... and see how time passes’   Esth’It's a pity the state of abandonment in which most of these stations are founder is more regretful. ‘Jesus added ‘The old station, what a shame, what beautiful buildings they were, is now a greenway so you can go by bicycle, which was the transit from Alcañiz to Tortosa.



Today is St George’s Day.  This is a public holiday in Aragon.  It is also the Day of Castilla y Leon but we might be there next year so lets get big on George.   You do feel that George is the City Group of the Saints world.  City Group has Manchester and Girona, George, Aragon and England - and in both cases, many other places besides.



Let's do the Johan Cruyff story first. Franco banned the Catalan language, including for the names of children blessedly brought up in Catalonia. Cryuff Had played for Barcelona between 1973 and 1978 and would manage the club from 1988 to 1996.   In 1974 his third child, a son, was named Jordi in the Netherlands, thus making him the first Jordi in Catalonia for some time.


In 1978 Aragón officially declared 23rd April as a celebration for San Jorge, the patron of Aragon, and titled it "Dia de Aragón"Day of Aragon commemorates the Battle of Alcoraz, when Huesca was conquered by the Aragonese army and where San Jorge apparently popped in at a critical moment to inspire and motivate the Chrisitian armies - hurrah!



Across Spain George works his magic.  In the Valencian city of Alcoi Saint George's Day is commemorated as a thanksgiving celebration for the proclaimed aid the Saint provided to the Christian troops fighting the Muslims in the siege of the city. Its citizens commemorate the day with a festivity in which thousands of people parade in medieval costumes, forming two "armies" of Moors and Christians and re-enacting the siege that gave the city to the Christians.  Dressing up and eating are the essences of a Spanish fiesta.mThe town Viérnoles in Cantabria celebrates several days of "Las Fiestas de San Jorge" at the end of April and or beginning of May.


The reconquest is commemorated in Cáceres as well. Festivities include the "burning of the dragon" and  re-enactments of the battles between Christians and Muslims. In addition, there is a procession to the shrine of the Virgin of La Montaña, a bonfire competition, and a search for two golden eggs hidden in Cáceres



To Catalonia. Sant Jordi is the patron saint of Catalonia. La Diada de Sant Jordi , also known as El Dia de la Rosa or El Dia del Llibre. . In Catalonia the main activity is the exchange of roses and books between sweethearts, loved ones and colleagues. From the 1920's, men gave women roses, and women gave men a book to celebrate the occasion – "a rose for love and a book forever." The fair of roses was called the lovers' fair because it was attended by engaged and recently married couples. In modern times, the mutual exchange of books is also customary and ought to be encouraged.



Onwards tomorrow. Let us see what St Mark’s Eve gas to offer.


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