Spanish Language Day (23/04)

Spanish Language Day (Spanish). The Día del Idioma Español, celebrated on April 23, was included in the calendar of international dates at the initiative of the United Nations Department of Public Affairs. In 2010, the unit proposed establishing holidays for each of the six official languages of the UN.

Since then, Spanish Language Day has been celebrated annually on April 23, the date of which is dedicated to the death of the great Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547—1616).

Today, Spanish influence is noticeable in many countries. Spanish, according to various estimates, is spoken by 450 to 500 million people — by residents of Spain itself, the USA, Mexico, Latin and South America, and some African countries. Mexico — is the largest Spanish-speaking country on the planet.

Spanish — is the official language of the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and the Organization of American States.

Therefore, in celebrating Spanish Language Day, the UN aims to encourage and support initiatives that promote multilingualism and multiculturalism and raise staff awareness of the history and use of Spanish as an official language.

It is expected that on Spanish Language Day, the UN Secretariat should host various events — concerts of national performers, exhibitions, competitions, popular science exhibitions and language lessons.

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