Day of the Book, Language and Miguel de Cervantes

There are many reasons that lead us to consider April 23 as a very special day. It was on April 23, 1616, on a day like today, when the highest representative of Spanish Literature, Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, died in Madrid. Born in Alcalá, he had a multiple and eventful life. He was a prisoner of Barbary pirates for 5 years.

He fought in the battle of Lepanto, where he was wounded, suffering the loss of one of his arms, then he was excommunicated and imprisoned in Spain.

His immortal work, which survives through the centuries, is the novel “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha”, with countless editions translated into all languages.

Prose writer: (novelist, short story writer) playwright, author of numerous works, such as “Voyage of Parnassus”, “Numancia”, “The Algiers Deal”, “Comedies and Entremeses”, “Twelve Exemplary Novels”, etc. In addition to his posthumous works “The Works of Persiles and Sigismund” published the year after his death.

But, April 23 also commemorates “Language Day”, “Book Day” and “Spanish Language Academies Day”.

The Spanish language is the second most spoken native language in the world after Mandarin Chinese, and the third most spoken language in general terms after Mandarin Chinese and English. In addition, it is the second most studied language in the world after English.

The Spanish language has a rich history and a wide diversity of dialects and regional variations. This linguistic diversity reflects the cultural and geographic diversity of Spanish-speaking countries. Through the study of the Spanish language, we can learn about and appreciate the culture and history of Spanish-speaking countries.

It is the official language of 21 countries and is used as a lingua franca in many others.

So today, April 23, is a day of celebration for lovers of literature and language. In addition to honoring the memory of Cervantes, today is also celebrated as Language Day and Book Day. Language Day aims to promote and protect the Spanish language, while Book Day celebrates the importance of reading and the role that books play in our lives. Both events are intended to foster a love of literature and culture in general.

Regardless of the language used, literature is a form of artistic expression that allows us to better know and understand the world around us. Through literature, we can explore different perspectives, cultures, ideas and emotions that help us better understand the complexity of human life.

Furthermore, literature is a way of preserving the memory and history of a society. Through books and other literary texts, we can learn about what life was like in different times and places, and how culture has evolved over time.

Literature can also be a source of inspiration and personal enrichment. It can help us develop empathy and compassion towards others, through identification with the characters and their stories. In addition, reading helps us develop skills such as concentration, imagination, creativity and the ability to reflect on ourselves and our environment.

That is why around the world, April 23 is also a day when other great writers are remembered, such as William Shakespeare, who died on the same day as Cervantes in 1616. In short, April 23 is a day of great importance for literature and culture around the world, a day in which we can reflect on the legacy of great writers and the importance of literature in our lives.