World Book and Copyright Day.
The 1995 UNESCO’s General Conference, held in Paris, decided to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on 23rd April, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those writers, who have contributed to the social and cultural progress of humanity.
23rd April is a symbolic date for world literature. It is on this date in 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors, such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
This celebration was first held in Spain in 1926 and initially it was celebrated on 7th October, although in 1930 it was changed to 23rd April.
Surprisingly, in Ireland and in the United Kingdom the Book Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of March. This year it was 3rd March, 2016.
Despite the controversy regarding the true dates of the famous authors’ death, it is a perfect day to start reading a good book and continue doing it all the year long. Please, read texts in English, in Spanish or in any other language you are able to use, but read. It will help you learn so much not only about the world and the other people’s life but about your own life and emotions.
«Literacy is the door to knowledge, essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment. Books, in all forms, play an essential role here. «
Irina Bokova
Here you have a link to access to the official World Book Day site with lots of resources, games, puzzles and ideas.