Spanish Book Day

Alfonso XIII signed a Royal Decree on the 6th of February 1926 officially creating the Spanish Book Festival.

The festival was to be held on the date then believed to be that of Cervantes birth, 7 octubre.
The Idea was originaly that of Valencian writer Vicente Andrés Clavel, who proposed the Book Chamber of Barcelona, ​​which was approved in March 1925.

proposing that the entity be held in October each year, on the date of the birth of Cervantes, coinciding with the first year with the Spanish Book Exhibition in Buenos Aires.
Soon after, in 1930, the date of 23 April was finally established as "Dia del Libro", (Day of the book in english).

The day was very quickly celebrated throughout Spain, especially in the cities with universities.
from Barcelona it ​​spread throughout Catalonia, although the official name was slowly reduced to match the Patron saint's day, known as National Day of Sant Jordi (St George's Day).

Over time it became traditional in Catalonia the exchange of roses and books among partners and loved ones.Becoming one of the most celebrated popular days.

This tradition was one of the arguments used by UNESCO to declare April 23 International Book Day.

In Spain, it is also the day they award the annual Cervantes Prize, the highest award given to Hispanic authors.

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