World Poetry Day Information For Students

World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21 March, and was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999, “with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard”. Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the original UNESCO declaration says, to “give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements”.

It was generally celebrated in October, but in the latter part of the 20th century the world community celebrated it on the 15th, the birthday of Virgil, the Roman epic poet and poet laureate under Augustus. The tradition to keep an October date for national or international poetry day celebrations still holds in many countries. The United Kingdom generally uses the first Thursday in October, but elsewhere a different October, or even sometimes a November date, is celebrated.

World Poetry Day History

World Poetry Day seeks to promote linguistic diversity and expression through poetry. The day also serves to encourage poetry, promote its teaching and support publishers involved in its dissemination. Poetry is a type of artistic expression that emphasizes feelings and ideas by using different styles and rhythms. The United Nations believes that poetry is an affirmation of our common humanity and proves that all humans everywhere share the same questions and feelings.

World Poetry Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 in an effort to support creative expression and endangered languages. It is celebrated annually on March 21st.