Spanish
The celebration of Book Day dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The history of the book becomes festive and literary activities arise throughout Spain. Today, April 23rd is celebrated worldwide as International Book Day.
The Origin of Book Day dates back to 1926. Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died on April 23, 1616. Also on April 23 were born – or died – other eminent writers such as Maurice Druon, K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla, or Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
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For this reason, this date, so symbolic for universal literature, was chosen by the UNESCO General Conference to pay a global tribute to the book and its authors, and to encourage everyone, particularly the youngest, to discover the pleasure of reading and respect the irreplaceable contribution of creators to social and cultural progress. The original idea for the celebration of Book Day came from Catalonia, from the Valencian writer Vicente Clavel Andrés, proposing it to the Official Book Chamber of Barcelona in 1923 and approved by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. October 7, 1926, was the first Book Day, and shortly after, in 1930, the date of April 23 was definitively established as Book Day, where this day coincides with Sant Jordi - Saint George, patron saint of Germany, Aragon, Bulgaria, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, England, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Mexico. It is traditional to give a rose at the end of a reading, event, or proclamation and for lovers and loved ones to exchange a rose and a book.
