Galician Literature Day

Galician Literature Day (Galician: Día das Letras Galegas) is a public holiday observed in Galicia, Spain. It is a celebration of the Galician language and its literature which was inaugurated by the Royal Galician Academy (Real Academia Galega) in 1963. This celebration has taken place on May 17 each year since 1963.[1] In the year 1991 Galician Literature Day was declared a public holiday in all Galicia.[2]

Galician Literature Day
In 2018
Official name	Día das Letras Galegas
Observed by	Galicia, Spain
Type	Cultural
Date	May 17
Next time	17 May 2021 (2021-05-17)
Frequency	annual

The first celebration took place in 1963 to commemorate the centenary of Cantares gallegos, the first work written in the Galician language by Rosalía de Castro (1837–1885), who later became one of the most important poets in the history of Galicia. Cantares gallegos was first published on May 17, 1863.[1]

Since 1963, each Galician Literature Day has been dedicated to a different writer in the Galician language. Only writers who have been dead for at least ten years are eligible, and the choice is made by the Royal Galician Academy.[2] There is only one precedent of a "shared" Day: in 1998, the day was dedicated to Martín Codax, Xohán de Cangas and Mendinho, together with the authors of the medieval songs (cantigas).