Maria Jose is a locally-born professional office specialist with bilingual secretarial studies who has been working in an array of companies in the town of San Roque and Sotogrande, joining the BM Team in 2015.
In 2026, we celebrate a very special milestone: the centenary of World Book Day 📚. One hundred years have passed since the Royal Decree of 6 February 1926 officially established the Book Festival in Spain, shaping one of the most beloved and universal cultural celebrations. What began as an initiative driven by Vicente Clavel has become a global tradition that honours the transformative power of reading ✨.
This anniversary invites us not only to look back with pride, but also to reflect on the future of books as an essential tool for education, inclusion, and universal access to culture 🌍.
World Book Day is celebrated every 23rd of April 📖, a symbolic date in world literature. On this day, we remember great figures such as Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, whose works continue to live on in readers around the world.
This tradition also has deep roots in Catalonia, where it coincides with the celebration of Sant Jordi 🌹. There, giving a book and a rose has become a meaningful gesture: culture and love intertwined.
Over time, UNESCO adopted this date to promote reading, the publishing industry, and the protection of copyright worldwide 🌐, establishing World Book Day as an international celebration.
One hundred years later, the spirit of World Book Day is stronger than ever. In this centenary, the focus is on:
Books remain open doors to knowledge, imagination, and empathy 💛.
World Book Day is also the perfect opportunity to share stories. Giving a book is much more than a gift: it is an invitation to travel, learn, and feel 🎁.
Every book has the power to connect with someone in a unique way.
Talking about books is, in itself, a way of keeping culture alive 📚.
The centenary of World Book Day reminds us that reading is not just a habit, but a tool for social transformation. In a world full of change, books remain a refuge, a source of learning, and a connection 🌿.
This 23rd of April 2026, let us celebrate not only one hundred years of this beautiful tradition, but also the role each of us plays in its future. Because every page read, every book gifted, and every story shared helps culture continue to grow ✨.
Happy World Book Day 📚🌹
