News Agency: April 23 is International Book Day, the full correct name is World Book and Copyright Day. It is an annual holiday organized by UNESCO (an acronym for: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – a specialized organization of the United Nations (United Nations) whose purpose is to promote international cooperation in the fields of culture, art and science, and to foster respect for human rights, regardless of color, social status and religion) to promote reading, editing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.
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How many books are read in different countries?
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Reading books stimulates the imagination, expands knowledge, and improves reading comprehension skills. Reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress levels by 68 percent. Reading can increase empathy and emotional intelligence.
It is estimated that the statistical Pole reads about 2.5 books a year. This includes reading by schoolchildren, students and academics, who heavily inflate the average. At the same time, more than 50 percent of Poles admit that they have not read a book in a year. It has become a popular opinion on the Internet that the statistical Pole reads 0.6 books a year. These are alarming results.
In comparison, the situation in Poland’s neighboring countries is much better. The statistical Czech reads about 5.5 books a year (other data indicate that as many as 17), and Germany – even 7. Of the European pastures, the Swiss Confederation and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg read the most books. Globally, India, the Kingdom of Thailand, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of the Philippines, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Czech Republic, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Sweden, the French Republic, Hungary, the United States of America (with 28 percent of people in this country unable to read at all) lead the way in reading.
When was World Books and Copyright Day established?
World Book and Copyright Day was first celebrated in 1995, as a holiday organized by UNESCO. The idea of organizing the holiday originated in Catalonia, in the Kingdom of Spain. In 1926, it was proposed by a Valencia publisher, Vicente the date of Cervantes’ birth, but due to the uncertainty surrounding it, the date of April 23 was eventually set. In the Kingdom of Spain, Book Day has been an official holiday since 1930.
Why World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on April 23?
It is celebrated on April 23. The date is symbolic. April 23 in the history of literature is a special day. On this day in 1616, Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, British playwright and poet William Shakespeare and Peruvian historian Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died (with Shakespeare’s death date being given according to the Julian calendar, and the other two according to the Gregorian). This day in other years also marks the anniversary of the birth or death of other prominent writers, such as Maurice Druon, Halldor Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. However, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, World Book Day is exceptionally celebrated on the first Thursday in March, so that the holiday falls during the school term.
What is the World Book Capital?
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has come up with the initiative to establish the World Book Capital. A different city is chosen each year. The title is awarded by UNESCO to recognize the best program prepared by a given city to promote books and reading.