By the decision of the Chairman of the Writers' Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan, on February 19, Armenia celebrates the national holiday — Book Donation Day. He announced the restoration of this tradition in 2008, noting that the initiator of the holiday was the Armenian government.
The date was chosen due to the fact that (7) on February 19, 1869, the greatest Armenian poet and writer, major public figure Hovhannes Tadevosovich Tumanyan was born. He began writing in his youth, in the mid-1880s, and collaborated with many Armenian newspapers and magazines.
Tumanyan left a small but varied literary legacy, which harmoniously combines prose and poetry, fairy tales and fables, lyrics and ballads. It is believed that folk epic is the most outstanding side of his work. His most famous works were: adaptations of the wonderful heroic epic «David of Sasun » (1902), a number of folk tales, legends, legends and ballads, including «Brave Nazar», «Master and worker», «Akhtamar», «Cuckoo», «Dog and cat», poems from folk life are also known life «Sako Lori» (1889), «Maro» (1887), «Anush» (1901—1902).
...And since
This frycat
To all our cats
Great-grandfather —
Cat families
And dogs
Between each other
They don't get along.
Seeing the cat,
Honest dog
Growls
And barks loudly,
As if
Tricky question
He wants to ask him:
«Ready hat
Or not?»
And the cat
He hisses back at him. O. Tumanyan «Dog and cat», translation by S. Marshak
Today, in honor of this Day, various events dedicated to the Book are held in the republic. After all, not so long ago the book was one of the most desired gifts. And now in Armenia they are trying to revive past traditions and return to the younger generation largely lost interest in books.
Among the festive events that take place throughout the republic are — public readings, educational and cultural events, theatrical performances, meetings of Armenian writers with readers, and, of course, everyone can give a magnificent gift to their loved one on this day — to give a book.
By the way, every year, starting from April 4, Tumanyan Days are held in Yerevan, and on February 14, many countries around the world celebrate International Book Donation Day.