Talk Like William Shakespeare Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Talk Like William Shakespeare Day occurs on March 22 the majority of years. The holiday dates back to 2009. Some U.S. governing bodies have changed the date, but the holiday is still officially observed in March. People add a touch of silliness to their days during the holiday by speaking like Shakespeare. Others recapitulate the events of their day in ‘Iambic Pentameter’ while the majority simply add a few ‘thou’s and ‘-eth’ to the end of the occasional word. In any case, the objective is to have joy with words!

The background of Talk Like William Shakespeare Day

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564. He was born into a modest family and went on to publish 37 plays and a collection of sonnets during his lifetime. Shakespeare’s writing and persona contributed to the establishment of the famous Globe Theater in England and influenced the evolution and history of the English language. No easy task for anyone, let alone a single author.

People frequently conjecture about Shakespeare’s life. According to historians, he was one of eight children who grew up in a relatively stable household for the time period. Shakespeare even had the opportunity to attend school, where he learned the now-famous Latin and grammar skills. He wed Anne Hathaway at the age of 18, and they remained wedded for many years. It was not until this time in his life that he began to write and perform, but his work rapidly gained recognition. By the time Shakespeare reached his thirties, the number and variety of his works had increased. At this juncture, he had begun to write with great skill and insight about the complex geography, culture, and clashing personalities of London. Shakespeare’s first plays were published around 1592; they covered his three primary genres: comedy, tragedy, and history.

Between the 1590s and 1612, when he retired, Shakespeare composed his most renowned and widely adored plays, his fame continued to grow. During this period, classic works of literature such as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Macbeth,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” were created and have endured to the present day.

World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Activities for Talk Like William Shakespeare Day

Talk like Shakespeare

Have joy while ending words with ‘-eth’ and using ‘thou’ as frequently as possible. Today is not the time to be overly self-important.

Examine a Shakespearean work.

Enjoy the works for which Shakespeare is renowned. You can choose from dozens of plays, sonnet collections, and poetry collections.

Learn some new expressions

Shakespeare was a creative poet who coined many terms still in use today; he also invented insults and compliments that are pure gold. Today, our favored expression is “You speak an infinite amount of nothing.”

5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE

There are records of Shakespeare’s name being written as Shaxberd, Shappere, and even as Shakspere by Shakespeare himself.

Shakespeare allegedly escaped his hometown during his disappearance after being spotted poaching deer on the estate of a local politician.

Audiences in the Globe Theater were permitted to shout their opinions on the performance and actors, making them far more interactive than modern audiences.

On Shakespeare’s tomb is a curse written by the man himself, which forbids anyone from disturbing his remains. To this day, the grave has not been disturbed.

Shakespeare’s writings contributed nearly 3,000 new words to the English language.

TALK LIKE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DAY DATES