National Sylvia Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

National Sylvia Day is observed annually on July 5 to honour and commemorate all Sylvias around the world. It is a feminine name with Latin origins and pertains to the forest Silva, whose name means “spirit of the wood.” In addition, the name appears in Roman mythology, where Silvia is the forest deity and Rea Silvia was Romulus and Remus’s birth mother. William Shakespeare popularised the name Silvia in England by designating the protagonist of a poem Silvia. Among the most well-known Sylvias is the late poet and author Sylvia Plath.

The background of National Sylvia Day

Numerous individuals named Sylvia or Silvia have made significant contributions to the world throughout history. Among the notable Sylvias are Saint Sylvia, the mother of Gregory the Great and the patron saint of expectant women, and Queen Silvia, the Queen Consort of Sweden. However, the most well-known individual with this name is Sylvia Plath, a renowned writer and advocate of confessional poetry.

Plath was an American author, poet, and novelist. She is frequently credited with advancing confessional poetry, which focuses on intimate experience, the psyche of the individual, and trauma. Her most prominent works are “The Colossus and Other Poems,” “Ariel,” and “The Bell Jar.” She attended Smith College in 1950 and excelled academically there. She edited “The Smith Review” and was awarded a one-month position as guest editor at “Mademoiselle” magazine in New York City. Plath’s first suicide attempt was documented in 1953, and she spent the following six months in psychiatric care at McLean Hospital. After undergoing treatment, she returned to college and was awarded a Fullbright scholarship to the University of Cambridge’s Newham College.

In June 1956, Plath wed Ted Hughes, whom she met in February 1956. Her first poetry collection, “The Colossus,” was published in 1960, and her semi-autobiographical novel, “The Bell Jar,” was completed the following year. In 1963, Plath tragically committed suicide.

NATIONAL SYLVIA DAY ACTIVITIES

Tell a Sylvia you care

If you have a wonderful Sylvia in your life, express your gratitude. Spend the day together doing something they enjoy.

Investigate your family lineage

Do you have any Sylvias in your family tree? This is an ideal time to discover! Determine whether you have any distant relatives named after the renowned author.

Read works by Sylvia Plath.

The literary works of Plath have received international acclaim. What better way to honour her abilities and legacy than to read her novels and poetry collections?

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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SYLVIA PLATH

Plath published her first poem at the tender age of eight.

At the age of 12, Plath’s intelligence quotient (IQ) was approximately 160.

“The Collected Poems,” published after Plath’s demise, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in her honour.

“The Bell Jar” was originally published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas.

Previously, W. B. Yeats resided in Plath’s residence.

NATIONAL SYLVIA DAY DATES