Armenia celebrates Book Giving Day on great poet Hovhannes Tumanyan’s birthday
Book Giving Day is annually celebrated in Armenia on February 19, the birthday anniversary of renowned Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan. The holiday has gained great popularity in the country over the years.
Armenia has been celebrating the Book Giving Day since 2008 at the initiative of Levon Ananyan, the late chairman of the Writers Union of Armenia.
A number of events will take place at Hovhannes Tumanyan Museum in Yerevan on the great poet’s 152nd birthday anniversary marked today.
Hovhannes Tumanyan was born in 1869 in the village of Dsegh, Tiflis Governorate, Russian Empire (now Lori Province, Armenia). His father, Aslan, was the village priest known by the name Ter-Tadevos. His mother, Sona, was an avid storyteller with a particular interest in fables. Young Tumanyan was the oldest of eight children.