Today is William Shakespeare's 450th anniversary. It is also international World Book Day, which is a worldwide celebration of books and reading. It’s marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The origins of the day come from Catalonia in Spain, where roses and books are given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 80 years ago on the feast day of their patron saint, also St George, and the anniversary of the great Spanish writer Cervantes who wrote Don Quixote. It's also known there as the Day of the Book.

On this day men offer a rose to their loved one, and in return she gives him a book. Those of you visiting Barcelona, for example, would not fail to see the main streets lined with stalls selling roses and books, as the tradition is hugely popular and has spread to exchanges between friends and work mates too.