April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (114th in leap years) and leaves 252 days remaining in a common year. It falls in northern spring and southern autumn. In astrology it usually lies within the sign of Taurus.

Calendar position and characteristics

As a fixed calendar date, April 23 has the same ordinal position each non-leap year and shifts weekday each year. Because different calendar systems have been used historically, events recorded on April 23 in one era may correspond to different dates in another. For information about the calendar system that defines this date, see the Gregorian calendar.

Cultural and historical associations

April 23 is widely recognised for a cluster of cultural observances. It is celebrated in parts of the world as Saint George's Day, honouring the tradition of the patron saint known in many Christian traditions. In Catalonia and some Spanish-speaking regions the day is observed as Sant Jordi, a local festival that combines gift-giving with books and roses.

In 1995 UNESCO designated April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property. The date was chosen for its symbolic literary associations: it has long been cited as the traditional date of death for both William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, and is commonly used by book fairs and literary events worldwide. Because of calendar reforms and historical record-keeping, those coinciding dates are treated cautiously by historians.

Observances and uses

  • Religious and national commemorations connected with Saint George in several countries.
  • Literary festivals, book launches and book-giving traditions, including Sant Jordi and World Book Day events.
  • Local civic ceremonies, historical commemorations and cultural programming timed to the date.

Beyond formal observances, April 23 is a routine day in the civil calendar that can carry local significance through anniversaries, births, deaths and municipal events. Its repeated association with literature and books has made it a focal point for readers, libraries and publishers around the world.