≡Chinese Language Day: why is it celebrated on April 20?
World Chinese Language Day is celebrated on April 20th.
The date was created by the United Nations (UN) in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity
The date honors the most spoken language in the world, with over 1 billion native speakers, and also values its ancient history, global influence, and importance in diplomacy, economics, and international culture. The choice of the day is linked to Cangjie, a legendary Chinese figure credited as the creator of Chinese characters. According to tradition, it was on April 20th that he developed this writing system. The Chinese language is one of the six official languages of the UN, and this date seeks to promote its use and expand knowledge about its rich literary, philosophical, and artistic tradition. With greater global prominence, especially with China's growth in the economic and political landscape, the learning of the Chinese language has been expanding in several countries, including Brazil. Chinese Language Day is therefore an opportunity to bring cultures closer together, encourage educational exchange, and strengthen ties between peoples through language.
