El Día del Libro. Nivel B1

Summary

International Book Day, celebrated on April 23rd, honors writers like Cervantes and Shakespeare. The day includes cultural events such as library visits, book readings, and storytelling for children. In Spain, St. George's Day is also celebrated, where men give roses and women gift books, marking it as a day of love and literature. The streets of Cataluña come alive with book stalls, author signings, and festive activities. It's a day filled with joy, as people of all ages celebrate reading and literature, making it the busiest day for book sales and author-reader interactions.

Takeaways

• 😀 International Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd in many countries to promote reading and book sales.
• 😀 The date was chosen to honor the deaths of two celebrated writers, Cervantes and William Shakespeare.
• 😀 The 'Premio Cervantes' award is presented on April 23rd at the University of Alcalá de Henares.
• 😀 Cities around the world host various cultural events, such as library visits, book readings, music, and storytelling for children.
• 😀 Events for reading aloud *El Quijote* are organized, where anyone can participate.
• 😀 Some schools hold narrative and poetry competitions, with awards given to winning students.
• 😀 In parts of Spain, St. George's Day (April 23rd) is also celebrated, with a legend about St. George killing a dragon to save a princess.
• 😀 In Cataluña, St. George's Day is also the Day of Lovers, celebrated by exchanging books and roses.
• 😀 On this day, bookshops set up street stalls selling the latest book releases, attracting large crowds.
• 😀 It is the busiest day of the year for book sales, with books for all tastes, including historical, children's, biographies, novels, and self-help genres.
• 😀 Authors often join in the festivities, talking with readers, signing books, and posing for photos.
• 😀 Though it's a working day, the atmosphere feels like a public holiday, with media coverage and lively celebrations across the streets.

Q & A

Why is International Book Day celebrated on April 23rd?

International Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd to honor the deaths of two prominent writers, Cervantes and William Shakespeare, who both passed away on this date.

What is the significance of the 'Premio Cervantes' award?

The 'Premio Cervantes' is a prestigious literature award presented annually on April 23rd at the University of Alcalá de Henares, recognizing a lifetime of literary achievement.

What types of cultural activities are organized on International Book Day?

On International Book Day, various cultural activities are organized, such as library visits, book readings, music performances in the streets, and storytelling events for children.

What is the tradition of reading 'El Quijote' on International Book Day?

One of the traditions on International Book Day is the public reading of 'El Quijote,' where anyone can participate in reading aloud sections of this iconic work.

What is the role of schools on International Book Day?

Schools celebrate International Book Day by organizing narrative and poetry competitions, where students can compete and win awards for their creative work.

What is celebrated on St. George's Day in Spain, and how is it related to International Book Day?

St. George's Day is celebrated on April 23rd in some parts of Spain, where the legend of St. George slaying a dragon is honored. The day also marks a cultural celebration, with the exchange of books and roses, making it closely tied to International Book Day.

What happens in Cataluña on St. George's Day?

In Cataluña, St. George's Day, or 'Sant Jordi,' is also celebrated as the Day of Lovers. People exchange roses and books as gifts, with men giving roses to women and women gifting books to men.

How many roses are sold on St. George's Day in Cataluña?

Approximately 6 million roses are sold on St. George's Day in Cataluña, as part of the tradition of gifting roses on this special day.

Why is April 23rd a significant day for book sales in Spain?

April 23rd is a major day for book sales in Spain, with bookshops setting up stalls on the streets to showcase the latest releases. It is the day of the year when the most books are sold, attracting thousands of people who browse and purchase books.

How do authors participate in the celebrations on International Book Day in Spain?

Authors participate by going out onto the streets to interact with their readers, signing books, and posing for photos. This creates a lively atmosphere, with many readers waiting in long queues for a chance to meet their favorite authors.