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The International Haiku Poetry Day is an annual event observed globally on every April 17. On this day, poetry lovers and literature enthusiasts across the world celebrate and honour the Haiku form of poetry. “A world of dew, And within every dewdrop, A world of struggle”. Written by Kobayashi Issa, these lines come together to what we call a ‘haiku’. Did you notice how the short lines push our imagination to instantly draw a vivid picture, swimming in the meaning of the poetry before we know it? That’s the magic of haiku. In this blog, we will explore more details about International Haiku Poetry Day, how to celebrate it, some interesting facts, and more.
| Name of the day | International Haiku Poetry Day |
| Observed on | April 17 |
| Reason | To honour and celebrate Haiku form of poetry |
Table of Contents
What is Haiku?
- A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry, which follows the rule of 5/7/5.
- 5 syllables are used in the first line, followed by seven in the second line, and then again, five syllables in the third line.
- The structure of haikus is well-composed.
- It sheds light on how even in restrictions, true art blooms.
Origin of Haiku Poetry Day
The origin of haiku can be traced back to the 1800s. This was the time when a famous Japanese poet namely Masako Shiki published a ‘Hokku’, later dubbed a ‘Haiku’. It was subsequently developed into an autonomous art form, by renowned names such as Ueshima Onitsuka and Matsuo Bash. Now how do we travel from that to a day in celebration of the poetry form, that is, Haiku Poetry Day? Well, this day was registered in 2007, by Sari Granstaff. And it was later implemented as a project in 2012, by The Haiku Foundation. It’s now celebrated every year on April 17, holding many types of events together.
Also Read: World Art Day 2023
Formation of a Haiku
How is a haiku formed? With creativity and the set structure used to form a haiku. Let’s learn the same below.
Why Celebrate Haiku Poetry Day?
What is the relevance of celebrating this day? We share some insights below.
- Haiku is creativity in its purest form. Celebrating the same with young writers helps them utilise their potential and reach newer heights!
- Haiku Poetry Day acts as a reminder that this medium encompasses greater than what high school teaches students.
- Haiku Poetry Day goes into the celebration of the underlying depth, breadth, and width of imagination that Haiku prompts the readers to dive intimately into.
- Haikyu Poetry Day celebrates the need for creative expression, including imaginative freedom.
- The day further acts as a way to motivate writers to continue the life of this prolific Japanese art, so it doesn’t cease to exist.
- Ultimately, this day works wonders to encourage young writers to continue their poetry in different forms.
Also Read: How To Write a Book: 5 Essential steps!
How to Celebrate Haiku Poetry Day?
How can one devise a way to celebrate Haiku Poetry Day? Through the following mentioned ways.
- You can compose a haiku poem.
- You can read about haiku poems and share them with others.
- You can procure a collection of haiku poems.
- You can host a mini-haiku writing contest or workshop; or attend one.
- You can look for the celebration of haiku poetry by attending exhibitions and participating in competitions.
- Get to know about the HaikuLife Haiku Film Festival and the Earthrise Rolling Haiku Collaboration.
- You can take to social media and talk about haiku using the appropriate hashtags!
Interesting Facts about Haiku
Read about some interesting facts about Haiku!
- Haiku is written in a single vertical line in Japanese.
- Haiku is so popular that apps such as Duolingo help people learn about the art of writing a haiku.
- In traditional haikus, the mention of the season is either hinted at or included. This is indicated by the word ‘kigu’, which sets the poem in a particular season.
- In Japanese, there is a juxtaposition or separator that cuts the poem into two halves. Though it is done through a particular word, in English it is done through punctuation.
- The haiku form of poetry was tied to the practice of Zen meditation.
Related Blogs
| How to Become a Poet | World Poetry Day |
| World Book Day | World Storytelling Day |
| World Book and Copyright Day | World Computer Literacy Day |
FAQs
Ans. Haiku Poetry Day is celebrated on April 17, annually.
Ans. “The Old Pond” by Matsuo Bashō is one of the most famous haiku poems.
Ans. The first traces of haiku poetry is back in the 17th century.
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