This year’s edition focused on the timeless works of Jan Kochanowski, one of Poland’s most admired poets and a key figure of the European Renaissance. The selected texts included his Songs, Epigrams, and Laments, which continue to resonate despite being written over 500 years ago.
"Literature allows us to improve our imagination and to see a world that perhaps wasn’t written for us, but one that we can become a part of," said President Nawrocki during the event. He highlighted the enduring relevance of Kochanowski’s poetry, calling the poet "the father of the Polish literary language, which has withstood the test of time."
Speaking directly to the youth in attendance, the president emphasized the importance of literature in shaping not only language but also identity, empathy, and imagination. He also noted that National Reading has become a tradition upheld by successive Polish presidents since its inception.
The First Lady echoed his sentiments, stating that the campaign "connects Poles all over the world," reinforcing a shared cultural heritage regardless of borders.
President Nawrocki also announced next year’s featured work: Dziady (Forefathers’ Eve) by Adam Mickiewicz, referring to it as "the book of all books."
This year’s event was one of the largest to date, with readings held in nearly 6,500 locations worldwide, including schools, libraries, embassies, and Polish cultural centers abroad.
Launched in 2012 by then-President Bronisław Komorowski with a collective reading of Mickiewicz’s Pan Tadeusz, the National Reading campaign aims to promote classic Polish literature and encourage reading among people of all ages.
(aj)
SOURCE: IAR