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I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills, taken from William Wordsworth’s Daffodils, expresses the serene beauty of nature and the pleasure it brings to a wander. Isn’t it beautiful how a few lines of poetry have the power to describe such deep feelings? Well, you can do that too on this World Poetry Day, an annual celebration that takes place on March 21. This day aims to celebrate poetry and linguistic diversity as well as helping languages to be heard. Let’s learn more about its history, theme, and significance.
| Name of the day | World Poetry Day |
| Observed on | 21 March |
| Reason | To promote the importance of poetry in fostering creativity and preserving cultural heritage. |
History of World Poetry Day
Before moving further, let’s take a look at the history of this day:
- World Poetry Day was established by UNESCO in the year 1999. It all happened during its 30th General Conference which took place in Paris, France.
- It was during this day that March 21st was declared as the official date of this annual observance.
- Since then, the day has been celebrated worldwide with schools and colleges organizing poetry events for students of all ages.
Also Read: International Haiku Poetry Day
Theme of World Poetry Day 2024
Every year a theme is decided to ensure that the celebration of this day runs parallel to the specific goal of interest. The official theme of World Poetry Day 2024 has not been declared by the official sources yet. The theme for 2023 was “Always a Poet, Even in Prose”.
Also Read: Most Influential Poets on Instagram
What is the Significance of World Poetry Day?
The celebration of World Poetry Day is significant for various reasons such as:
- Source of creativity: The day highlights poetry as an important source of creative and artistic inspiration.
- Preserving oral traditions: It also recognizes poetry as an important instrument in preserving oral traditions and folklore and passing them down through generations.
- Fostering unity: This day recognizes poetry and its power to bring people together despite social, cultural, and geographical demarcations, fostering unity and collaboration.
- Educational value: Additionally, World Poetry Day celebrates the educational value of poetry in helping students develop language skills and creative thinking skills.
Also Read: Encourage a Young Writer Day
How to Observe World Poetry Day?
Here are the different ways through which you can celebrate this World Poetry Day 2024 with your friends and other poetry enthusiasts:
- Write a poem
- Organize a poem-writing competition with your friends
- Read poems written by famous writers around the world
- Play interactive games such as quizzes based on the world of literature
5 Famous Poets and Poems
Edgar Allan Poe
Writing period: 19th century
Famous poems: The Raven, Annabel Lee, Lenore
William Shakespeare
Writing period: Elizabethan Age
Famous poems: Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s Day?, The Phoenix and the Turtle
Emily Dickinson
Writing period: Victorian-era
Famous poems: “Hope” is the thing with feathers, Because I could not stop for Death, I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Pablo Neruda
Writing period: 20th century
Famous poems: Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines, Ode to My Socks, Cat’s Dream
Robert Frost
Writing period: 20th century
Famous poems: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, The Road Not Taken, Fire and Ice
Related Blogs
| History of English Literature | Greatest Writers of All Times |
| Poems on Gandhi Jayanti in English | Republic Day Poems in English |
| Rumi Quotes | International Literacy Day |
FAQs
World Poetry Day is celebrated every 21 March to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of poetry as a form of expression. It was established by UNESCO in 1999.
Yes, every March 21 is celebrated worldwide as World Poetry Day. It aims to bring people together from different backgrounds and find a form of mutual expression.
World Poetry Day was established by UNESCO in 1999 during its 30th session in Paris, France.
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