Zagreb, 20th April 2020 – How to foster a reading culture during the pandemic?
In order to foster a reading culture, especially during the self-isolation time, the Delegation of Catalonia to Southeastern Europe invites Croatian citizens to read some of the best Catalan writers translated into Croatian, revealing the roots of historical love between Catalonia and the written word.
During this years’ Croatian Book Night 2020 manifestation, an annual national programme aimed at the popularisation of reading and promotion of books, marking World Book and Copyright Day (23rd April), Croatian writer and editor Kruno Lokotar will present the most relevant Catalan writings translated to Croatian language through four videos. Videos will be posted on Delegation’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cataloniaHR) from 20th to 23rd April 2020. During this period, Croatian citizens will have the possibility to take part in the contest and win some of the Catalan writings presented (Words for a Lapidarium, translated and selected by Tonko Maroevic; The Times of Doves, a novel written by Mercè Rodoreda, the most important 20th century Catalan author; Without fear, a book written by the most radical European nun, Teresa Forcades).
It is worth to mention the fact that UNESCO declared 23rd April as World Book and Copyright Day following the convincement of Catalan editors in 1995. However, this day is even more special in Catalonia because on this day Catalans celebrate Sant Jordi, Literature and Roses Day, throughout the world famous initiative “Books and Roses”. The initiative whose aim is to connect books, roses and love is globally spread manifestation which is celebrated in more than 50 countries all around the world every year.
People exchange books and roses as an act of gratitude. The roots of this celebration trace back from the mixture of history traditions. On the one hand, Sant Jordi has been patron saint of Catalonia since 15th century, and on the other hand the celebration relies on the famous legend about Saint George and the dragon (the knight defeats the dragon, who terrorized the village and the princess, and after killing the dragon, St. George gave the princess one beautiful red rose) as well as on the old medieval tradition of visiting Sant Jordi chapel in Palacio de la Generalitat in Barcelona, the place where the fair of roses or fair of the lovers had been usually held. That is the reason why Sant Jordi is also the patron of Catalan admirers. On the day of Sant Jordi more than 1,5 million books and 6 million roses are sold in Catalonia. Although this year’s Sant Jordi celebration will be held far from the libraries and bookshops, it will not minimize the significance of this globally recognized day neither the importance of the message it transmits.
