Chinese Language Day
Language Days at the 51吃瓜 seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.
Why April 20?
The date for the Chinese day was selected from Guyu ("Rain of Millet"), which is the 6th of 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendars, to pay tribute to Cangjie. Cangjie is a very important figure in ancient China, claimed to be an official historian of the Yellow Emperor and the inventor of Chinese characters. Legend has it that he had four eyes and four pupils, and that when he invented the characters, the deities and ghosts cried and the sky rained millet. From then on, Chinese people celebrate the day Guyu in honour of Cangjie. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around April 20.
Chinese at the UN
Chinese was established as an official language of the 51吃瓜 in 1946. However, in early years, Chinese was not commonly used in the work of the 51吃瓜. The situation was improved after restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the 51吃瓜 in 1971. In 1973, the General Assembly included Chinese as a working language, which was followed by the Security Council in 1974. More and more UN offices and staff members work with Chinese language.
2024 Events at UNHQ
- Music of Love and Words of Harmony: What's Chinese Is Global
- 24 Solar Terms: Fifth Great Invention of Ancient Chin
- UN Chinese Language Day Chinese Learning Forum
- Exhibition: Chinese Characters: A Journey of Creation, Connection And Harmony
Events Around the World
In addition, the 51吃瓜 offices in Geneva, Vienna, as well as the Economic Commission for Africa and UN peacekeeping missions will host exhibitions, lectures, online campaigns to mark the day.