In Venice on St Mark's Day
 

I will be in Venice on the 25th April next year which is St Mark's Day and also a public holiday for Liberation Day.

Just wondering whether there are any special festivities on this day like boat races or parades etc... I have read about the rose giving but can't seem to find any other information, and thought somebody may know more.

Any help will be great thanks.

Kaz-it's not one of the major Venetian festivals (one such festival "Festa della Salute" is coming up on Nov. 21st). But Venetians do in fact hold a gondola race on that day, (but that's not a big deal-they hold gondola races almost every other week when it gets warm) and they serve the special St. Mark's day dish "risi e bisi" (risotto and fresh peas, with pancetta-a sort of Venetian take on a Caribbean thing, you know! (smile).

And, as you mentioned already, Venetian men of course give a red rose (called a "bocciolo" (rosebud) to the women in their lives-the longer the stem, the deeper the love.

This tradition is based on an old legend where a Venetian soldier, fighting in a far-off land, was mortally wounded, and as his blood spilled onto the ground, it bore red roses, which he entrusted to a companion to take back to his love, the Doge's daughter, something along those lines.

Thanks girlspytravel: I'll keep an eye out for the gondola race, hope to receive a really long stemmed rose from my husband, and just enjoy whatever Venice has to offer.
(I'm not a fan of peas but hey, you only live once)

Hi kaz, I am not a big fan of peas either but I love the Venetian risotto with peas. Do try it just once, you many be pleasantly surprised!

No one does risotto like the Venetians, particularly their seafood risotto, LoveItaly, one of my very favorite dishes.