St. George’s Day

Today, April 23, is St. George’s Day in England. However, many other countries celebrate the feast of St. George including Iraq, Lebanon and Albania. As one would expect, Georgia also celebrates St. George’s Day but not in April – this former republic of the USSR celebrates twice a year on 6 May and 23 November.

St. George by Rafael

Saint George is also associated with several areas of Spain, especially in Catalonia. One of the most charming Spanish, or should I say Catalonian, traditions takes place on St George’s Day. On that day, men give women roses and the ladies give their man a book. The custom is to celebrate Catalonia’s patron saint and to commemorate ‘World Book Day’ – on 23 April 1616 both Shakespeare and Cervantes died. April 23 was also Shakespeare’s birthday so no wonder the day is important in literary circles!

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Zarzuela Concert Roquetas 20 Apr 2013

Attended an excellent concert at the Teatro Auditorio de Roquetas de Mar Saturday, 20 April 2013 – it was an anthology of zarzuela, the Spanish equivalent of operetta. It was a delightful mix of operatic and popular song, as well as dance. 

Zarzuela is said to derive from the name of a Royal hunting lodge, the Palacio de la Zarzuela near Madrid, where, allegedly, this type of entertainment was first presented to the Spanish court.

more photos here 

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Colyton – a pretty town in East Devon

Colyton is a charming little town that nestles in the Axe Valley in East Devonshire. The beautifully preserved stone and thatched buildings line the tiny streets that form a circular pattern surrounding the impressive St Andrew’s Church. 

The church has an unusual octagonal tower which was installed in the 15th century when Colyton was a rich wool town. The ‘Lantern’ Tower was used as a beacon for ships on the once navigable River Axe, to the east. 

On the outskirts of the town is the babbling River Coly.

Also on the edge of the town is the Seaton to Colyton tramway station.

For more photographs of Colyton click this link.

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

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