International Greek Language Day

February 9 is International Greek Language Day.

We celebrate the Greek language—ancient and modern—every day, but there is an official day of celebration on February 9 each year.

Established in 2018 by a vote of the Greek Parliament, International Greek Language Day honors the memory of the poet Dionysios Solomos, who died on that date in 1857. Solomos wrote the words to the Hymn to Liberty, which became the Greek national anthem. International Greek Language Day celebrates not only the contributions of Greek literature to world literature, but the potential of the Greek language itself to express ideas and values that have influenced thinkers around the world. Prof. Polyvia Parara has previously published an appreciation of the language in the newspaper Kathimerini / New York Times.