World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days) is a yearly event on 23 April, organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes, who died on this date. In 1995 UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April, as the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as that of the birth or death of several other prominent authors: Maurice Druon, Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. In Spain, to celebrate this day, Cervantes's Don Quixote is read during a two-day "readathon" and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize is presented by the Spanish king in Alcalá de Henares. In Catalonia, Spain, St. George's Day has been 'The Day of the Rose' since 1436, and involves the exchange of gifts between loved ones and respected people—it is analogous to Valentine's Day. Although World Book and Copyright Day has been celebrated since 1995 internationally, books were exchanged on 'The Day of the Rose' in Catalonia since at least 1926, in memory of Cervantes.

1. World book day
What is it?

2. World Book Day or World Book and Copyright
Day (also known as International Day of the
Book or World Book Days) is a yearly event on
23 April, organised by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), to promote reading, publishing and
copyright.

3. The connection between 23 April and books was
first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a
way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes,
who died on this date. In 1995 UNESCO decided
that the World Book and Copyright Day would
be celebrated on 23 April, as the date is also the
anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare
and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega,

4. as well as that of the birth or death of several
other prominent authors: Maurice Druon,
Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla
and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.

5. In Spain, to celebrate this day, Cervantes's Don
Quixote is read during a two-day "readathon"
and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize is presented
by the Spanish king in Alcalá de Henares.

6. In Catalonia, Spain, St. George's Day has been
'The Day of the Rose' since 1436, and involves
the exchange of gifts between loved ones and
respected people—it is analogous to Valentine's
Day. Although World Book and Copyright Day
has been celebrated since 1995 internationally,
books were exchanged on 'The Day of the Rose'
in Catalonia since at least 1926, in memory of
Cervantes.

7. In Catalonia, Spain, St. George's Day has been
'The Day of the Rose' since 1436, and involves
the exchange of gifts between loved ones and
respected people—it is analogous to Valentine's
Day. Although World Book and Copyright Day
has been celebrated since 1995 internationally,
books were exchanged on 'The Day of the Rose'
in Catalonia since at least 1926, in memory of
Cervantes.