On the 23rd of April we commemorate the death of 3 great worldwide known writers: William Shakespeare (1564), Miguel de Cervantes and Garcilaso de la Vega, who both died in 1616.

The first celebration, which became part of the celebrations of Sant Jordi, was made in Catalonia in 1923 honouring Cervantes. On this day, it was a medieval tradition for men to give roses to their lovers; from 1925 it also started the tradition for women to give books in exchange.

In 1995 UNESCO declared this day as The World Book Day, becuase of the Catalonian festival and the anniversary of birth or death of some great writers, apart from the three already mentioned.

As a curiosity, the coincidence of dates in Cervantes and Shakespeare’s deaths is not strictly precise. Cervantes died the 23rd of April according to the Gregorian calendar; however, England was still using the Julian calendar. The fact is that Shakespeare died ten days later than Cervantes due to this discrepancy of calendars.

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Photo by: queropere