If you are in Santiago de Compostela or walking the Camino de Santiago on 17th May, you will get the chance to celebrate a very special date in Galicia's calendar: Galician Literature Day, 'Día das Letras Galegas' or simply 'Día das Letras'.

On 17th May, Galicians celebrate their own language, their literature, as well as their best writers. This annual celebration was introduced by Galicia's Royal Academy (Real Academia Galega). The first 'Día das Letras' took place in 1963 to commemorate the centenary of the publication of 'Cantares Gallegos', the first book written in Galician language by Rosalía de Castro, one of Galicia's most celebrated writers and poets. 17th May has also been a public holiday in Galicia since 1991.

Rosalía de Castro was one of the most important writers of the Galician romantic movement in the XIX century, known as 'Rexurdimento' (referring to the Renaissance of the Galician language). Alongside poets Manuel Curros Enríquez and Eduardo Pondal, they were the first authors to use Galician language in their written work, after the so-called 'Séculos Escuros' (Dark Centuries). Rosalía often wrote about emigration, social injustice, as well as defending the poor and women's rights. Her work is also marked by a characteristic and recurrent nostalgia and melancholy.

Rosalía's home is today a popular house-museum in the town of Padrón, so if you are walking the last section of the Camino de Santiago on the Portuguese Way, why not stop to visit?

Since 1963, Galician Literature Day pays homage to a different Galician writer each year. In 2013, Galician Literature Day is dedicated to playwright and actor Roberto Vidal Bolaño, who was from Santiago de Compostela.

Many cultural events take place on 17th May all around Galicia, particularly in Santiago de Compostela. If you are in the city around this date, you will get a chance to celebrate one of Galicia's most special holidays.

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