STRATFORD, England, April 24 (Reporter Cuckoo) April 23 is World Book Day and the anniversary of the birth of British literary giant William Shakespeare. On the same day, many literary lovers came to Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to get close to Shakespeare and feel Shakespeare.
This is a book about Shakespeare taken in a bookstore in Stratford, England, on April 23. (Photo by Xinhua news agency reporter Li Ying)
In the morning, a flag with Shakespeare's head fluttered in the wind over the town, standing out against the bright sun. Accompanied by an orchestra, a procession of local primary and secondary school students and civic groups walked all the way to the central square. Local residents and visitors sang birthday songs in unison, culminating in the 458th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.
Shakespeare was born in 1564 and died in 1616. Although his exact date of birth is still controversial, Britons generally consider April 23 to be his birthday and celebrate it. The special significance of this day does not stop there. In 1995, UNESCO proclaimed 23 April as World Book Day, thereby promoting more people to read and write, making reading an integral part of people's daily lives.
An elderly couple from Derbyshire told Xinhua that they would feel the historical and cultural atmosphere in Shakespeare's hometown today and watch fragments of Shakespeare's plays performed by street performers.
This is a flower-filled Shakespeare's tomb photographed in Stratford, England, on April 23. (Photo by Xinhua news agency reporter Li Ying)
Paul Edmondson, head of the research department of the Shakespeare Birthplace Foundation and honorary researcher at the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that reading day is of great significance for commemorating shakespeare and other giants of world literature. Shakespeare's greatest contribution to world literature, he said, was the invention of many words, "when he could not find the right words to describe things, he would create a new word... Shakespeare is the creator of language, the expression of emotion, the painter of characters, and the storyteller of stories."
In addition to the lively atmosphere of Shakespeare's birthday celebrations, some people also come to the town library to quietly enjoy the joy of reading. Jack, a 17-year-old high school student, said he enjoyed reading Shakespeare's writings and participated in the school's Shakespeare plays. The library also prepared a "Shakespeare Treasure Hunt" activity on the same day, encouraging young readers to explore the knowledge about Shakespeare in the library according to clues and increase their interest in reading.
On April 23, people attended shakespeare memorial in Stratford, England. On the same day, an event was held in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon to commemorate the 458th anniversary of the birth of the literary giant. (Photo by Xinhua news agency reporter Li Ying)
Christine Woolard, a book sales clerk at the Shakespeare Birthplace Foundation, told Xinhua that it is very meaningful to read on Shakespeare's birthday. On the 23rd, the sales of books about Shakespeare in the bookstore increased. The town's celebration of Shakespeare's birthday was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. Starting this year, more tourists began to come here to explore Shakespeare's footprints.