With International Book Day 2023 Another year is approaching, the time to give culture and share with our loved ones the readings that fascinate us, the stories that we have experienced almost directly or that have only been recommended to us.
However…why 23 april? What is it about this history that connects him so deeply with literature? You have to go back to 1616 to find the root cause. The death of three outstanding writers on that date, April 23, 1616, played a common role.
Miguel de Cervantes, who died the previous day at the age of 22, was buried on the same day he died. Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. It should also be taken into account that the Julian calendar was used in England at that time so that the dates overlap, it is also William Shakespeare’s death day. Thus, April 23 remained closely associated with some of the most important writers in literary history forever.
As if that weren’t enough, the date also coincides with the birth or death dates of other outstanding writers. Joseph Pla anyone William Wordsworth.
Although the current celebration was declared by UNESCO in 1995, it has been a day for nearly a century in Spain promoting reading, defending the publishing industry and protecting intellectual property. It was 1926 when Alfonso XIII decided that the ‘Spanish Book Festival’ would be held on 7 October, when it was believed that the ‘Prince of Reason’ was born. Miguel de Cervantes. Four years later, in 1930, the day on which it was celebrated was definitively changed to April 23. The Ministry of Culture also presents the prestigious Cervantes Award in honor of the author of ‘Don Quixote’ on this date. On this occasion, since it coincides with a Sunday, the delivery ceremony will be held on Monday, April 24.
Other countries celebrate similar festivals dedicated to literature on a different date than before. Book and Copyright Day It was introduced by UNESCO. The first Thursday of March is celebrated as World Book Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland, May 26 is National Book Day in Uruguay, and June 25 is Paraguay Book Day. Chile celebrated it on November 29, but currently the international holiday has been assimilated and the country has joined April 23 as the chosen date.
Unesco, together with the International Association of Publishers, the International Federation of Booksellers and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, has selected a book each year since 2001. World Book Capital. The first city where this honor fell was Madrid, and this 2022 chosen city is Accra in Ghana.