"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." - Charles W. Eliot (1834 – 1926)
And it is to celebrate the love of books that we celebrate the World Book Day today.
This quote illustrates the importance that books have always held in our lives for a very very long time. They have eternally been a source of knowledge & the most credible medium to pass down information to the future generations. And to peruse this ocean of information, to read, is a wonderful, very intellectual habit in itself.
The connection between 23rd April and books finds its way back in 1995, when UNESCO declared it as the “World Book and Copyright Day” to commemorate the anniversary of the birth and death of one of the most renowned personalites of English Literaure - William Shakespeare.
The cultural eye can also trace it back to 1923 when booksellers in Spain marked it so as an ode to the death of Miguel de Cervantes (the famous Spanish author of Don Quixote’s Adventures).
This became a part of the celebrations of the Saint George's Day in Catalonia, where men of the medieval era gave roses to their lovers and the women to give a book in exchange.
Although, the UNESCO declared World Book Day is on the 23rd of April, various countries celebrate this occasion on different days in assorted ways.
Although, the UNESCO declared World Book Day is on the 23rd of April, various countries celebrate this occasion on different days in assorted ways.
Check out the pictures & links to get a glimpse of how colourfully it is rejoiced.
Spain:
To celebrate this day Cervantes' Don Quixote is read during a two-day "readathon" and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize is presented by the King in Alcalá de Henares. Gozo
The Gozo Public Library celebrated World Book Day for the fourteenth consecutive year, this time.
To see more events in in Gozo, visit http://gozonews.com/17319/world-book-day-2011-events-celebrated-in-gozo-last-week/ United Kingdom & Ireland
Every year various events are organised in schools, bookshops, libraries of UK & Ireland to celebrate World Book Day. The variety and number are impressive, demonstrating how big the celebrations are all over the country.
www.worldbookday.com
India:
The Library Media Centre at Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom celebrates each World Book and Copyright Day with colossal events. There are competitions, author meets & exhibition of books authored by Shakespeare.
Christopher Morley once said when you give a man a book you don't give just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you give him a whole new life. There's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book.
Librarywala takes this opportunity to celebrate the World Book Day 2010 in a unique way of sorts. At Librarywala, we plan to spread the joy of reading among the underprivileged by distributing books among them.
How you can get involved?
DONATE your old books to the less lucky & put them to good use. We are open to comics, novels, classics - any suitable reading material.
Books bring delight which grows manifold when its shared especially with someone who may not have a chance to read if not for you.Dont forget to tell us how you plan to celebrate this World Book Day.
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