This document discusses April 23rd and notable events that occurred on this date, including: 1) It is the birthday of William Shakespeare and Saint George's Day. Shakespeare died on his birthday in 1616 at the age of 52. 2) Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, also died on April 23rd, 1616, but 10 days before Shakespeare. This is because Spain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which removed 10 days from the calendar. 3) UNESCO designated April 23rd as World Book Day, inspired by its celebration in Catalonia, though World Book Day in the UK is celebrated in March.

1. 23 April
rd
Saint George’s Day
Shakespeare’s Birthday

2. God for Harry,
England and
Saint George!
Henry V (III, i)

3. William Shakespeare
God for Harry,
England and Saint
George!
Henry V (III, i)

4. Shakespeare died on his birthday.
He was born on
23rd April 1564.
He died on 23rd
April 1616.

5. Cervantes was born
in 1547.
How can that
be true?
He also died on 23rd
April 1616, but ten days
before Shakespeare!

6. When Spain changed to
the Gregorian system in
1582, the calendar
“lost” ten days.
However, England
kept the traditional
Julian calendar until
1752.

7. UNESCO got the
idea from Catalonia
to celebrate this day.

8. But in the UK,
the celebrations
for World Book
Day are in
March!

9. Saint George’s Day

11. The legend of ‘Saint George and the Dragon’
comes from a book entitled The Golden Legend.

12. William Caxton printed the English
translation of The Golden Legend in 1483.

13. Celebrations

14. Medieval pageants

15. Scouts on parade

16. Morris dancing

17. Flying the flag