A Special Day For Special People : Book Lovers Day
Every year on the 9th of August, bibliophiles all across the globe gather as one united community to celebrate one of the most special days of the year- Book Lovers Day! The unofficial holiday was upheld this year too where reading, writing and literature were honoured and celebrated with countless sunny smiles.
Intriguing History
Although the true origins of Book Lovers Day are quite murky and may forever remain a swirl of mystery and rumour, the history and development of books is something that can be clearly seen over the course of history.
The books that we use today are very, very different from the way they started off. The first books introduced to the world include clay tablets in Mesopotamia (around 3rd Millennium BCE) and papyrus in Ancient Egypt (around the First Dynasty). Paper was first created by Ts’ai Lun in China, around 105 AD, using the bark of the mulberry tree. Then, during the period of the Tang Dynasty, the first printing of books started in China. At the beginning of the 20th century, hardback books were the stars of the market. However, from 1937 onwards, paperbacks became more popular. With the rise of technological advancement, the digitalization of books began. The first digital book was sold in CD format around the 1980s.
A Clay Tablet from Mesopotamia
Papyrus from Ancient Egypt
One of the First Printed Books from China
Why is it so important?
Reading books and engaging in literature adds many benefits to people’s lives! It promotes empathy and emotional intelligence. It also sharpens the mind and increases cognitive intelligence, which increases concentration, memory, focus and critical analysis levels. Moreover, it is portal of a cosmic amount of information, which not only increases knowledge but also builds a stronger vocabulary. Additionally, reading puts people in a more relaxed and peaceful state of mind which can boost sleep, lower stress levels and brighten their day.
Reading and literature has several varying and significant benefits, which is why Book Lovers Day is extremely important since it brings to light all these benefits in order for more people to include reading as a hobby in their lives!
Fun Ways To Celebrate!
There are several exciting ways to celebrate this momentous day. One of the best things to do is to simply spend the day cosying up with some reading, reading and more reading! Due to the fast-paced movement of the world, it may sometimes be difficult to find free time to read so make sure to try and take a few hours off from all school or work commitments on Book Lovers Day and just sit back, relax and get absorbed into the comforting world of a good book (or three!)
Another great thing to do is to get together with friends who are fellow book lovers. The Covid- 19 pandemic need not hinder this fun as meeting on an online platform such as Zoom is still an option. A book (or books) may be selected, and if the physical copies are not available at home, pdf copies of it may be distributed. Then, as a group, several informative and enjoyable book discussions can be held!
Local libraries and online book communities, such as Goodreads, usually have entertaining events in commemoration of Book Lovers Day as well. Make sure to check them out, join in the fun!