Galicia Literature Day
Galician Literature Day is a public holiday observed annually in Galicia, Spain, on May 17th. This holiday celebrates not only Galician literature but also the language. The Royal Galician Academy first observed it in 1963, and it has been celebrated as a regional holiday ever since.
Spain (Local holiday)Each year, the day is dedicated to a different writer who writes in the Galician language. In the first year it was celebrated, the holiday was dedicated to RosalÃa de Castro, and the year after that, to Alfonso Daniel RodrÃguez Castelao. In 2021, it was dedicated to Xela Arias.
The History of Galician Literature Day
Every autonomous region in Spain not only observes national public holidays but also can declare two regional holidays for their area. In Galicia, two autonomous community holidays were selected.
The first was the Day of Galicia, and the second was Galician Literature Day, a day dedicated to the celebration of the Galician language and literature. It started in 1963 with the Royal Galician Academy and has been celebrated ever since.
Interesting Facts About Galicia
Think you know everything about Galicia, Spain? Well, let us tell you that we’re betting you don’t, and to prove it, we’re listing some interesting facts about Galicia below.
- Galicia is home to many different thermal baths.
- Pulpo a la Gallega is a Galician dish made with octopus.
- The Rapa das Bestas is a festival that involves the capture of wild mountain horses.
Observing Galician Literature Day
This holiday is observed with book fairs, festivals, and other events that celebrate the Galician language and literature. Each year, this holiday is dedicated to a particular writer who writes in the Galician language. Some of the writers so honored in past years include Lois Pereiro, Vicente Risco, and MarÃa Victoria Moreno. The hashtag #GalicianLiteratureDay can be used on social media to spread the word about this holiday.
Spain (Local holiday)
