Book Giving Day

Book Giving Day is observed in Armenia on February 19, the birthday of Hovhannes Tumanyan, a central figure in modern Armenian literature. Government reporting records that the practice had become established by the 2010s, while the Ministry of Justice’s penitentiary service traces nationwide observance to 2008. The date is cultural rather than one of the non-working holidays listed in Armenia’s current law, so schools, libraries and workplaces normally remain open.

Tumanyan wrote poetry, stories, ballads and adaptations familiar to Armenian readers, making his birthday an occasion for broadening access to books rather than simply commemorating an author. Publishers, libraries, schools and public institutions arrange donations, readings and literary meetings. Books may be given to children, friends, community libraries or institutions whose readers have limited access to new material.

The observance’s strength lies in a practical act: a reader selects a book for someone else and often adds a personal message. It supports Armenian language and literary continuity without excluding translations or international writing. It is widely promoted but not a statutory closure.