23 April is a symbolic date for world literature for on this date in 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent world authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
The General Conference of UNESCO decided that such as important day in world literature should be celebrated, and ten years ago established the International Day of the Book and Copyrights. The day is honored more in countries other than the United Sates.
This tradition started in 1929 in Catalonia, Spain. On April 23rd, men give flowers to women who will then give them a book in exchange. According to Wikipedia: “half of the yearly sales of books in Catalonia are sold at this time - over 400,000 sold and exchanged for over 4 million roses.”
Today libraries and schools around the world celebrate books, and promote reading through different activities and programs. In Spain for example, there are two-day read-a-thons of Don Quixote. Some publishers choose this day to release a new title, such as Artemis Fowl. Just remember, there is always a good reason to start reading, so today might be the day you want to come to the library and pick up a book from one of these authors:
- Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
- A midsummer night's dream by William Shakespeare
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
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