Reading culture and World Book Day, April 23rd

(Baonghean.vn) - April 23rd each year is considered a symbolic day for world literature. Recognizing the importance of reading culture, the United Nations has chosen April 23rd to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, honoring the values ​​of books and the contributions of authors in creating many valuable works.

In the spiritual lives of each of us, books play a very important role: they are the universal key that unlocks the castle of human intellect and soul; they are the supreme teacher that illuminates within us an infinite source of knowledge, teaching us how to live and how to sacrifice. It can be said that books are a confidant, sharing all the deepest joys and sorrows of each person, and reading has long become an essential need of human society worldwide.

April 23rd each year is considered a symbolic day for world literature.

Recognizing the importance of reading culture, at the 28th session of the United Nations General Assembly in Paris (October 25 - November 16, 1995), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) decided to designate April 23rd each year as "World Book and Copyright Day," clearly stating the objectives and participants of the day to honor the values ​​of books and the contributions of authors to the creation of timeless works.

This day is celebrated annually in each country to ensure that everyone can discover and satisfy their reading interests, and to honor authors who have made significant contributions to the cultural and social progress of humanity. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate cooperation and collaboration among authors, publishers, schools, libraries, government agencies, private companies, non-governmental organizations, and media outlets in organizing celebrations of books and authors.

Books allow readers to become whoever they want to be, as they can learn about the characters' deepest thoughts. From this, readers also gain a deeper understanding of human psychology.

The idea for World Book and Copyright Day originated from a beautiful tradition in Catalonia (Spain): On April 23rd each year (the feast day of Saint George), numerous book fairs and street festivals are held, and each customer receives a rose with the purchase of a book on that day.

April 23rd is also the day when three of the world's greatest literary figures—Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega—died after leaving behind masterpieces for all time. This day is also the birthday or death anniversary of other famous authors such as Maurice Druon, K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Joseph Pla, and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.

Therefore, UNESCO hopes that World Book and Copyright Day will be an occasion for the whole world to celebrate books and those who create them – those who have made irreplaceable contributions to the development of human culture; an occasion to encourage everyone, especially young people, to discover the love of reading and to celebrate the culture of reading.

Promoting the "5-minute reading" campaign (actually, a 5-minute reading material printed to fit on a single sheet of paper) in Łódź, Poland in 2013.

In response to UNESCO's initiative, and to affirm the immense value of books and publications, for over 10 years, more than 150 countries worldwide have celebrated "World Book and Copyright Day" with many practical activities in various forms and themes, attracting many participants, and especially building close relationships between libraries, publishers, distributors, and readers.

Organized by publishers and libraries, the "Street Book" celebration offers book lovers the opportunity to buy books at low prices with author signatures; it's also a chance to distribute promotional materials for World Book Day designed by UNESCO (posters, flags, markers, T-shirts, postcards, etc.), or to donate books from existing stock to impoverished communities and financially constrained libraries: hospitals, prisons, and even refugee camps and social housing...

Tunisian students engage in street reading on World Book Day 2012.

In Africa, many young people participate in volunteer book fairs, bringing books to the sick, the elderly, the blind, and even the illiterate, reading them aloud to them.

For over 10 years, these beneficial activities have been regularly held in European, North American, and African countries. In China, a program to promote reading culture has been implemented, with the flagship activity being "Reading Day with Children," held annually on April 23rd for parents nationwide.

In Vietnam, recognizing the importance of reading culture, on February 24, 2014, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 284/QD-TTg designating April 21st as Vietnam Book Day to encourage and develop the reading movement in the community, raising public awareness of the great significance and importance of reading for the development of knowledge, skills, thinking, education, and character building. This is truly great news for book lovers.

Readers choose books at Vietnam Book Day.

With the spirit of highlighting the importance of books and knowledge in life, World Book Day in Vietnam is becoming a cultural and civilized activity for book lovers that needs to be maintained and promoted more widely in society. It also requires more support and attention from relevant authorities so that reading culture remains an indispensable need for civilized citizens in today's era.

Kim Ngoc

(Synthetic)