April 23 — World Book and Copyright Day: History and Traditions

Every year on April 23, the world celebrates World Book and Copyright Day, a large—scale event that unites millions of people from different cultures, reminding them that the book is a universal language that is understandable on all continents. It also serves as an important reminder of the need to protect the rights of authors and intellectual property. In 2025, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. Read about its history and traditions in the Izvestia article.

World Book and Copyright Day - 2025: the history of the holiday

World Book and Copyright Day was established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on November 15, 1995.

The date was not chosen by chance. It was on April 23 that three prominent authors of world literature passed away at once — Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. In addition, several world-famous writers were born on this day: Vladimir Nabokov, Maurice Druon and Halldour Laxness.

The holiday was officially celebrated for the first time on April 23, 1996. Since then, it has been held annually in more than 100 countries around the world.

World Book and Copyright Day on April 23: traditions of celebration

In the modern world, World Book and Copyright Day has become a vibrant international cultural event. For writers, translators, journalists, book publishing and library professionals, April 23 is a professional holiday that allows them to summarize the results of the year, identify challenges, share experiences and, of course, remind of the importance of reading in the digital age.

On this day, fairs, exhibitions, public readings and lectures dedicated to the holiday are organized in Moscow, London, Paris, Tokyo, New York and other major megacities. They are designed to draw the attention of a wide audience to books, as well as to copyright issues.

Online platforms are holding large-scale promotions on this day, making books more accessible through discounts.

The Book is in the Air: Bibliophiles and Bibliophobes in Russian Literature

From loving to hating sign paper.

Since 2001, UNESCO has annually awarded the title of World Book Capital to one of the world's cities, which hosts various literary competitions, educational projects, libraries, and book culture throughout the year. In 2025, this honorary mission is assigned to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It will become the epicenter of literary initiatives, reviving interest in the book as a source of knowledge, art and social dialogue.

In Russia, the popular cultural event "Biblionoch" is timed to coincide with World Book and Copyright Day. In 2025, it will be held for the 14th time on the Saturday closest to the holiday, April 26.

The theme of 2025 is "Our heroes". This evening, libraries, museums and shops across the country will be open until 20-22 hours. Exclusive promotions, master classes, lectures, creative meetings and exhibitions are waiting for visitors.

World Book and Copyright Day: who and how to congratulate

World Book and Copyright Day is an opportunity to thank those who create, publish, preserve, and distribute books. On April 23, congratulations are accepted by everyone connected with the world of literature, knowledge and creativity. First of all, these are writers and poets, because they are the ones who fill books with content and create meanings.

Also on this day, editors, proofreaders, literary agents and professional translators who make the text perfect and accessible to a wide audience are congratulated.
Congratulations are addressed to employees of publishing houses and printing houses, employees of bookstores and, of course, librarians — those who daily help the reader to find "his" book.
And, of course, it is worth congratulating the readers, because without their attention the books would not have such importance.

Cool reading: the brightest books of 2024

Non-fiction about the most underrated woman in the Roman Empire, a manual for dealing with achievers, and a memoir by a witness to the political upheaval in Iran

Izvestia has prepared several examples of how this can be done.:

"Dear authors, please accept my sincere congratulations on World Book and Copyright Day! Thanks to your work, literature continues to inspire, educate, and unite people around the world. May your work bring joy, recognition and endless inspiration."

"Congratulations on Book and Copyright Day! Let your pen be sharp, the plot exciting, and the inspiration inexhaustible. Thank you for the worlds you open up to your readers and for the ideas that stay with us for a long time."

"Dear librarians, happy Book Day! You don't just work with literature, you preserve culture, help find the way to knowledge, and inspire reading. May your work be in demand, and may the atmosphere of your library be cozy and lively."

World Book and Copyright Day: interesting facts about books

The book as a cultural phenomenon has been accompanying humanity for millennia. During this time, she has gone from primitive recording to interactive digital formats. Izvestia has collected some amazing facts about this phenomenon of civilization.

The first books were clay tablets with cuneiform script, created around 3000 BC in Sumerian city-states. Later, papyrus scrolls and codices appeared in ancient Egypt, the progenitors of modern books in the form of stitched parchment pages.

One of the oldest known literary works is considered to be the Epic of Gilgamesh, created in Mesopotamia more than 4 thousand years ago. It was written in Sumerian and Akkadian in cuneiform script on clay tablets.

Officially, the smallest book listed in the Guinness Book of World Records is considered to be the volume of the Japanese publishing house Toppan Printing, released in 2013. Its dimensions are only 0.75 mm × 0.75 mm. The book contains 22 pages with Japanese flowers and their scientific names. The text was applied using modern microlithography, and it can only be seen under a microscope.

The largest book in the world called "This the Prophet Mohamed", which tells about the life of the Prophet Muhammad, was created in Dubai in 2012. Its weight exceeds 1.5 tons, and its height is more than 5 m.

A modern mystery is the Voynich Manuscript, dating from the 15th century. This is a book that cannot be read. It is written in an unknown language that is still indecipherable. Scientists suggest that the manuscript may be a treatise on alchemy or botany.

According to the publishers, the Bible remains the most frequently read book in history. It is published in more than 3 thousand languages. It is the leader in the number of printed copies every year.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the International Film Day.