814 Shakespeare Day

William Shakespeare is well known all around the world if you have not heard this name before I would like to ask where you have been living because I believe it is under a big rock. William was known for his poetry and dramatic work on stage. His work is often studied in schools and recreated through the big screen or the modern stage. On the 23rd of April every year, William Shakespeare is celebrated. It is celebrated on the same day as St George’s day.

William shakes was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire to his father John and mother Mary. Unfortunately, the date of Williams’s birth is unknown due to the lack of records in his time, but he was baptised on April 26th, 1564, and died on April 23rd, 1616.

He married 18 years old to Anne Hathaway, the daughter of the local farmer. Once wed they had three children. Susanna was born in May 1583, and Hamnet and Judith were born in 1985 as twins. Unfortunately, at the time there were regular outbreaks of the bubonic plague also known as the black plague. In 1596 Hamnet contracted the deadly disease and died at the age of 11.

Williams’s career took off in London as a writer and part-owner of a company called Lord Chamberlain’s Men from 1585 to 1592. Shakespeare’s plays are well known even now, more than 400 years later. Some of his earlier plays include Titus Andronicus, A Midsummers Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, and Richard II. The tragedy Romeo and Juliet was also published around the same time. Later in 1602, Shakespeare wrote more plays including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth.

Pageants are held annually as a way of celebration for William. Flowers are placed on his grave all year round, but it is a tradition to leave flowers on Shakespeare’s day. The mayor of Stratford leads a procession including bands, civic dignitary costumed actors and actresses, Morris dancers and the staff and pupils of local schools. Often the schools local to Warwickshire will put lessons on hold for a few hours and spend the time learning about writing, drama and or English to celebrate his life.

So, are you a fan of Shakespeare’s work?