Galician Literature Day, celebrated in Spain, is a public holiday in the autonomous community of Galicia. The day is dedicated to the promotion of the Galician language and its literature. It was first established in 1963 by the Royal Galician Academy and since 1991, it has been officially recognized by the Galician Government. Held on May 17 each year, the holiday recognizes a different Galician literary figure each year.
The day is traditionally marked with various cultural activities such as book fairs, readings of the works by the honored author, and other cultural performances aimed at celebrating Galician literature and promoting the use of Galician language. Despite being a local holiday, the celebration of Galician Literature Day transcends the borders of Galicia as various Galician communities across the world also celebrate the day.
The significance of Galician Literature Day reflects the rich history and cultural importance of the Galician language and literature in Spain and beyond. The holiday serves as a platform to both celebrate the contributions of various authors to Galician literature and to invigorate the use and appreciation of the Galician language among the younger generations. Through this celebration, Galicia continues to honor its language and the literary figures who have contributed enormously to the development of its literature and culture.