The day of the Book!

Today is the day of the book.

Shakespeare was born and died 52 years later on this day. William Wordsworth died on this day. The Icelandic Nobel price winning author Halldor Laxness died on this day. Miguel de Cervantes was born on this day.Vladimir Nabokov was born on this day too.I am sure that many others were born and died on this day, I just don't know about it.

Oh and HIV was discovered on this day in 1984 but that has nothing to do with literature, but it's important.

Do you celebrate this day in your countries?

As in 23rd April? Nope, do you have a country celebration for that? :eek: Quite cool though, look at how many things happened.

Since this thread mentions Nabakov, let me take this opportunity to recommend "Pale Fire" to anyone who hasn't read it. It's most excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Btw...wow, HIV is so 'young' :eek: I didnt know it was discovered such a relatively little time ago.

Those were strange days for those of us old enough to remember. There we were in the shallow, superficial, casual sex, nuthin' but a good time '80s, and suddenly people were dying.

The progress that's been made with this disease in such a short time is remarkable. There are people around today who are "living with HIV." 20 years ago, there was no such thing.

It's St. Georges day in England - our patron saint, but we don't have any special celebrations for some reason. The Irish do it much better on St. Patrick's day.

there is a whole week were all sorts of lectures and poetry readings all over the country. A man dressed like H.C Andersen went to kindergardens and told kids stories. A book with a few of Shakespeares plays in a children version was published and a lot more. I went to a booksale and bought three books at the price of one. All kinds of booksales were going on.

This date entirely slipped away from my mind until you reminded me, Helga.
Thank you. :)

Mono, do you celebrate this day in the USofA?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Helga

Mono, do you celebrate this day in the USofA?

---

No, not nationally, but many literary-geeks, like myself, at least express a high acknowledgement of the day. Few Americans, without having a literature or writing degree, or just loving classical literature, know of the significance of yesterday, but for those who know compensate for others. :)

You know, that day - 23rd of April - passed me by entirely. I didn't realise it was the 23rd of April. I didn't even think about it. I only did yesterday, when I was reading an(rather boring) article on Shakespeare performances through the years (well their opinion of Kenneth Branagh didn't agree with me so :p)...

But you know, we do not know that Shakespeare was actually born on the 23rd - he was baptised then, certainly, but usually they did that a day or two after the child's birth. In fact, his daughter chose to be married on the 22nd - "in honour of her famous relative" (misquote; my memory, sorry) - and not on the 23rd, the day he died, and, coincidentally, St George's Day. But Shakespeare's birthday has always been celebrated on the 23rd, and I see nothing wrong with that...that is, being born on Christmas, I celebrate my birthday with my friends a few weeks before.

Well. Must be off...as usual!

Miss Darcy

We have a day called "kirjan ja ruusun päivä"/"bokens och rosens dag" = the day of the book and the rose. Not sure what date it is. On that day there might be some sales and events in bookstores, and on the streets some people give other people roses.

Hi Faith, long time no see! How've you been? Welcome back! :wave:

Hey, I've been just ok! I've just been on other forums. Great someone has noticed that I haven't been here for a while. :)

Is that a new nick for Jay?? 'Great Someone'?? :p

lol, nope I hope, hehe, imagine what it would do to my head :D :p

yeah, great that ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by faith

We have a day called "kirjan ja ruusun päivä"/"bokens och rosens dag" = the day of the book and the rose. Not sure what date it is. On that day there might be some sales and events in bookstores, and on the streets some people give other people roses.

---

Hey! we have a similar -if not the same- tradition here in Catalonia (in Spain, but only in Catalonia)

It is called 'la diada de Sant Jordi' (catalan)

-diada: day / día(spanish)
-St. Jordi: St. George/ San Jorge

The legend tells how St Jordi saved the princess from the dragon by killing it with a sword. Afterwards, a red rose appeared from the dragon's blood. Saint George (or Sant Jordi) gave it to the princess......

Well, that is the legend more or less. The tradition we have here is that men give women a red rose (although there is the possibility to buy yellow, green, blue roses since some years ago !!! lol). (bad grammar, sorry)
And women give men a book. (The process is changing, though. I prefer being given a book than a rose!!! :P hehe)

If you know something about Barcelona you may know about the 'Ramblas' street. Well, each 23rd of April this long street becomes .. something like a japanese tube or subway lol (so much people in there!!). Just joking, it becomes a street market of books and roses, with a lot of people strolling from Catalonia Square to the Columbus statue near the Mediterranean sea!!

^_^ I would link some photos but i gotta go now :(

See you!!!