When is World Book Day? Why is it so important in Spain?
23 April is International Book Day. Spaniards celebrate it to commemorate distinguished Miguel de Cervantes, the world-famous La Mancha writer, author of Don Quixote and to encourage reading.
Manchegos like me are not only proud of the best vino and queso in the world (unarguably), but also of the most international Spanish writer whose book has been translated into 145 languages!
Who are Sant Jordi i el drac (Saint George and the dragon)?
In Catalonia, Book Day coincides with the festivity of Sant Jordi. Traditionally, men and women exchange books and roses and cities like Barcelona literally bloom. Smell of fresh roses and the scent of new and old books conquer the Ramblas. This year, flowers will be origami-crafted and we will have to smell our e-readers (refrain from doing this at home), but our fond love for literature will remain strong.
What books are on your list this year?
(Dear fellow translators, dictionaries don’t count!)