Born on March 21
World Poetry Day
Send someone a few good lines.
Next: March 21, 2027
Where it comes from
UNESCO adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day at its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999. The aim was to support the world's many languages through poetry, and to give endangered languages more chances to be heard.
How it's celebrated
UNESCO asks people to honour poets, revive the oral tradition of poetry recitals, read, write and teach poetry, and bring it together with theatre, dance, music and painting. Libraries, schools and cafés hold readings and open-mic nights.
Did you know
The Shijing (Classic of Poetry), the first anthology of Chinese poetry, holds 305 poems, most thought to date from about 1000 to 600 BCE.
Read the full story of World Poetry Day
Also on this day
- International Day of Nowruz · A new day for a new spring.
Star sign
Aries · March 21 – April 19 · Fire sign
First through the door: bold, quick to start and happiest with a challenge.