All About World Book Day

Bookworms unite! This is the day that we have been waiting for. It is also known as International Day of the Book, World Book Days, and World Book and Copyright Day. (If you have an event coming up, our design agency can help you design your communication materials such as posters, banners, and event merchandise.)

But do you know why we celebrate this event? Here are some Fun Facts that we bet you never knew.

April or March? When Do We Celebrate It?

UNESCO created World Book Day and Copyright Day on April 23, 1995, with the goal of celebrating reading and promoting the positive ways it can make our lives better. But why do some countries celebrate it on March 5? 

In some countries, World Book Day is celebrated on the first Thursday of March because it usually coincides with Easter.

What is the Significance of World Book Day?

Aside from celebrating books, this is also a commemoration day for some of the greatest authors of our time. William Shakespeare, Maurice Druon, Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, and Vladimir Nabokov died on April 23. 

How is it Celebrated in Different Countries?

Kids and adults alike dress up as their favorite book character or author. Schools, book shops, libraries, and offices are adorned with festive decors. It is a massive celebration in many cities around the world. Books are even priced low so many people can get a book for themselves.

How is it Celebrated in Different Countries?

Besides dressing up as their favorite characters, people are also encouraged to donate to organizations and charities such as Book Aid International. Last year, the organization was able to send 47,335 books to communities around the world who need them most!

Fun Facts Related to Books

Did you know that the first library was built in Assyria around (668-627BC)? The Assyrian leader, Ashurbanipal had it built in Nineveh, in modern-day Iraq. It houses some 30,000 cuneiform tablets meticulously arranged according to the subject matter.

We love cute custom bookmarks. Today, bookmarks can be made in plastic, wood, metal, and corrugated cardboard. But did you know that the oldest existing bookmark is said to have been from the 6th century AD. It was made from ornamented leather with vellum lining the back attached with a leather strap to the cover of a Coptic codex.

The Oxford Dictionary credits Lewis Carroll, the famed author of Alice in Wonderland invented, for inventing some whimsical words that we are using today. “Chortle,” “Frabjous,” “Jabberwocky,” are just 3 of the 21 words attributed to Carroll.

The Bible was the first book printed on the press and it was done on Johann Gutenberg’s press in 1450.

The book “Des destinées de l’ame” (Destinies of the Soul) written by Arsène Houssaye and published in the 1880’s was confirmed to have been bound in human skin. The act of binding books in human skin is not uncommon in the past, especially in the 15th century. The practice is called “Anthropodermic Bibliopegy.”

The longest title of a book consists of 26, 021 characters and 3777 words. Credit goes to Vityala Yethindra in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Where Does Mindsparkz Come In?

Reading can be fun, engaging, and relaxing. What better way to encourage kids to read books than offering them cool gifts? Branded gifts and promotional products can be a great way to promote reading and spread the transformative power of books.

Let Mindsparkz take care of your product design needs. Whether you want some cool and artsy designs for your bookmark, custom souvenirs, and giveaways, our design agency got your back!

If you have an event coming up, our design agency can also help you with branding designs for your marketing campaigns.

We offer retainer programs and other design services such as branding, graphic, and web designs. Contact our product designers today!

From concept to market, we are here to help you out!