Happy World Book and Copyright Day, it might seem like a bit of a mouthful, but for those bookworms amongst us April 23 is a UNESCO event celebrating books and authors.

But why do we celebrate the worldwide event? And what is its purpose? April 23, according to UNESCO, “holds immense symbolism in world literature, marking the death of several renowned authors.” The English William Shakespeare and the Spanish Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, are amongst those whose legacy is remembered on World Book and Copyright Day. A legacy that focuses with hope on education and literacy around the world.

World Book Day’s origins are firmly rooted in Spanish literary history and culture.

The original world book day actually began in Spain. According to the association of publishers: “The celebration goes back to ‘La Diada de Sant Jordi’, or the Festival of St George, which is Catalunya’s version of Valentine’s Day, when people give each other red roses—but also books.” The festival of Saint George falls on April 23.

But Spain’s association with World Book day goes even further than this, as according to the association of publishers in 1995, “the UNESCO Director General, Federico Mayor- a Spanish scientist, scholar, politician, diplomat and poet sent a letter to Pere Vicens, president of the Spanish Publishers Association (La Federación de Gremios de Editores de España), informing him that UNESCO had unanimously decided to declare the 23rd of April as ‘World Book and Copyright Day”.

Although in many countries there are separate World Book Days as with The UK and Ireland both of which celebrate the event in early March.

How is UNESCO celebrating this year?

World Book and Copyright Day brings libraries, publishers and authors together to celebrate in UNESCO’s words “the power of books.” Each year since 2001 a city has been chosen as A World Book Capital, this year it was the turn Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The city is using the event to begin a project showing how books can influence socio-economic changes, focusing on literacy, education and the eradication of poverty.

The UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay said that “Books in all their forms, allow us to learn and keep ourselves informed. They also entertain us and help us to understand the world.”

Multilingualism is a key component in literacy worldwide and UNESCO use World Book and Copyright Day as a platform to advocate for multilingual educational resources, just as they did on Mother Language Day back in February. Here in Spain there are book sharing events and much more to take part in all over the country, visit your Town Hall’s social media to find out what they have planned.

Discover more world events here.

In La Cala de Mijas, they know him for his warmth, professionalism and his personal touch. They know him as Andrew from Figaro.

‘We are open every day, all year round, because our customers come back again and again,’ Says the Hungarian born manager of Figaro in La Cala de Mijas. ‘They say, we came because you were recommended. Oh, you must be Andrew!’ They come for the quality of the food. We do things in a different way’

18 years in Spain, Andrew brings with him all the experience of hospitality learned in Hungary, Germany, Austria and Michelin star quality in Switzerland.

He began at age 14 working in a busy restaurant on the shores of Lake Balaton, always learning. He worked for a high-end French hotel chain, and in a Swiss Michelin star hotel in Switzerland. ‘I’ve built my own system from the places I’ve worked. How the service has to be done. I train my waiters, record videos for them, how to decant the wine, how to recommend a wine perfectly.’

‘When we open, we are ‘on air’ and forget everything else out there. Focussing, concentrating. The customer is everything.’

Andrew is an integral part of everything that happens at Figaro, from testing recipes, to checking for food intolerance issues, to ensuring the customer has the best experience. 

Meet Andrew at Figaro, Calle Ronda, 34, La Cala de Mijas.

In May, Royal Caribbean’s ‘Allure of the Seas’, the world’s biggest cruise ship, will dock in Palma de Mallorca, bringing a mountain of economic benefits.

Carrying 139,000 turnaround passengers and 2,384 crew members, the ship is expected to generate €8 million in passenger spending and an additional €500,000 from the crew. With 22 eight-hour stopovers planned between May and October, the ship will give a boost to Mallorca’s tourism and commercial activity.

Palma’s Mayor Mateu Isern spoke of the ‘spectacular’ growth of cruise tourism, making Palma Spain’s second-largest cruise destination and the Mediterranean’s fourth. The 362-metre-long ship, with capacity for 6,318 passengers, features seven themed areas, including an Aquatheater, Central Park with 12,000 plants, and Broadway’s musical ‘Chicago’. The Balearic Port Authority’s investments have made Palma an irresistible hub, contributing to a €27 million economic impact across Spain.

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