February 21 – International Mother Language Day
Every year on February 21, the whole world celebrates International Mother Language Day, declared at the 30th session of UNESCO in 1999. Native Language Days in Belarus have been held by state institutions since 2009.
This is a special day to remind about the importance of each language, each word, each shade that make up the rich palette of human cultures.
The Belarusian language is not just a means of communication, it is the soul of our people, the code of our culture, a treasury of history. It is through language that we pass on traditions, customs, and spiritual values from generation to generation.
The Belarusian State Archive and Museum of Literature and Art (hereinafter referred to as BGAMLI) stores in its collections priceless monuments of Belarusian literature and art created in the native language. These are printed publications, manuscripts, letters, documents of outstanding Belarusian writers, poets, artists, composers, actors and other cultural figures who glorified their native land and native language with their creativity.
On International Mother Language Day, BGAMLI calls on everyone:
– Appreciate and love the Belarusian language!
– Speak Belarusian in your family, at work, in public places!
– Read Belarusian literature!
– Come to BGAMLI to touch the richness of Belarusian culture!
Happy International Mother Language Day!