April 23 Marks World Book Day

Today, April 23 marks World Book Day, fondly known as World Book and Copyright Day.

The day aims to encourage young people to discover the pleasure of reading, writing, copyrighting, and publishing.  It also highlights and raises awareness of the importance of education and literacy.

The theme for this year is 'Indigenous Languages' and it focuses on promoting the diversity in native languages of a country. 

To celebrate the day, various libraries and cultural centers across the globe hold various activities to promote the passion for books and reading. 

This date coincides with the birth anniversary and death anniversary of several great writers including William Shakespeare, Garcilaso de la Vega, and Miguel de Cervantes. So, this is the reason why April 23 was chosen as the date for World Book Day.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Book Day holds great significance. It promotes the importance of education and literacy around the globe. Books are an essential source of knowledge and reading is a fundamental skill that is needed for people from all walks of life.

It's worth mentioning that UNESCO  held the first World Book Day on April 23, 1995.