Today is World Book and Copyright Day (otherwise known as International Day of the Book, which has a much nicer ring). I’ve actually had this event on my calendar for months (if not longer), so I’d remember to blog about it. But then I got busy, and creating a post seemed too time consuming. [World Book Day is celebrated March 5 in the UK and Ireland.]
Why April 23? “23 April is a symbolic date for world literature for on this date in 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.” It’s also the date of a national feast day in Catalonia (La Diada de Sant Jordi), a feast which is celebrated by giving a rose and a book to a loved one.
Well, as I was in the process of ignoring the calendar’s reminder of this mostly non-event this morning, the mail came, bearing a surprise package from my sister.
She sent me a book and a rose! Yay!
This was made all the more surprising because our mail normally doesn’t arrive until at least 2 p.m., while today it arrived, I’d estimate, before 9 a.m. Apparently the routes have changed, and I’ll no longer sit in agony all day, wondering what the day’s mail will bring.
This same sister I’ve been urging to begin reviewing books here with me. *nudge*
I don’t think World Book and Copyright Day is commemorated much in the US, which makes me a little bit sad. My local library’s Friends of the Library annual book sale starts tomorrow, though …
The Globe Theatre starts its season today too, in honor of Shakespeare – making us all wish we were in London!
I think the routes have changed. We’re suddenly getting our mail in the afternoon. I’ll trade you back. : )
Yeah, the mail carrier told us this morning that the routes did change. I’m not too eager to give this slot up, though.