World Storytelling Day: Origin, Significance, 2024 Theme And Reasons To Celebrate  

World storytelling day encourages the sharing of stories in various forms — through words, pictures, music, and drama — making it a vibrant expression of culture and imagination.

World Storytelling Day (Representational Image)

World Storytelling Day 2024: The World Storytelling Day is observed every year on the March equinox, which is usually on March 20, and is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling in various languages and styles, highlighting the diversity and vitality of oral storytelling traditions. This day encourages the sharing of stories in various forms — through words, pictures, music, and drama — making it a vibrant expression of culture and imagination.

World Storytelling Day Significance And Origin:

The significance of World Storytelling Day lies in its capacity to foster connections among people, cultures, and generations. Stories have always been a fundamental way through which human beings understand themselves and the world around them. They are vehicles for sharing wisdom, entertainment, cultural values, and historical lessons. Dedicating a day to storytelling underscores the importance of stories in nurturing empathy, creativity, and a shared sense of humanity.

The idea behind World Storytelling Day originated from a national storytelling day in Sweden, known as ‘Alla berättares dag’, in the early 1990s. It evolved into a global event in 2004, with the aim of connecting people worldwide through the practice of storytelling. The day encourages everyone, from professional storytellers to those recounting tales in their homes or communities, to participate and share stories.
From small gatherings in local communities, the event has taken the shape of large-scale international festivals.

4 Reasons To Celebrate World Storytelling Day:

• Preserving oral traditions: The day emphasises the importance of oral storytelling traditions, which have been a part of human culture since the beginning of time.
• Creativity and imagination: Through storytelling, people can explore the bounds of their imagination and express themselves in unique and creative ways.
• Cultural exchange: Stories from different cultures are shared, providing insights into diverse life experiences, beliefs, and traditions.
• Community feeling and understanding: Stories have the power to bridge gaps between individuals and groups, promoting mutual understanding and compassion.
• Inclusivity: The event is inclusive, encouraging participation from people of all ages, backgrounds, and storytelling experience levels.

World Storytelling Day 2024: Theme 

Each year, World Storytelling Day has a theme, which serves as a prompt or inspiration for storytellers. Past themes have included ‘Wise Fools’, ‘Strong Women’, ‘Dreams’, and ‘Myths, Legends, and Epics’, showcasing the wide range of human experience and imagination that storytelling can encompass.

According to the official website of World Storytelling Day, the theme for this year is ‘Building Bridges’. The website says storytellers all over the world, both professional and amateur, together choose a theme and then find relevant oral stories to share. They usually schedule live and virtual events on or around March 20 for everyone to participate. A variety of events can be seen on the occasion, including storytelling festivals, workshops, exhibitions, and sessions in schools, libraries, or cafes.