UNESCO’s Executive Board has unanimously proposed the establishment of February 9 as World Greek Language Day, following an initiative by Greece’s Permanent Delegation. The decision, adopted on April 14, 2025, acknowledges the Greek language not only as a historical artifact but as a living thread woven through centuries of human expression.
February 9 is not a random choice. It marks the death of Dionysios Solomos, the national poet of Greece and author of the Hymn to Liberty, whose work helped shape modern Greek identity. For years, this date has been honored in schools and communities in Greece and abroad as a day of linguistic remembrance. With UNESCO’s endorsement, it becomes a fixture on the international calendar, offering a renewed occasion to reflect on a language that continues to shape the intellectual and cultural life of both Greece and the wider world.
The proposal was met with broad support, including the early and symbolic endorsement of Haiti, the first country to recognize Greek independence more than two centuries ago. Behind this gesture lies a careful and coordinated effort led by Greece’s Permanent Mission to UNESCO, with the support of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and noted scholars such as Giorgos Babiniotis and Christos Clairis. Their aim was clear: to highlight the role of Greek not as a language confined to antiquity, but as a dynamic force that has contributed—and continues to contribute—to global knowledge and communication.
Greek holds a singular position among the world’s languages. It is the oldest continuously spoken and written language in Europe, with an unbroken oral tradition spanning 4,000 years and a written history of nearly three millennia. This continuity is not simply a matter of endurance. It speaks to the resilience of a linguistic tradition that has evolved without losing its essence. As Giorgos Seferis remarked in his Nobel address, “Greek has never ceased to be spoken… but there has never been a gap.”
Throughout history, Greek has provided the language for philosophy, science, medicine, literature, and theology. It shaped the intellectual legacy of the ancient world, was adopted and adapted by the Romans, flourished in Byzantine hymnography, and reemerged as a vital influence during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. Its influence extends well beyond the borders of the Greek-speaking world. Countless scientific terms and everyday words—democracy, ethics, crisis, method, theory—have Greek roots, a legacy still visible in dozens of modern languages.
The creation of the Greek alphabet in the 8th century BCE marked a turning point in human history. By introducing vowels into the consonant-heavy Phoenician script, the Greeks transformed the way language could be recorded, making it possible to capture not just sounds, but meaning in its full complexity. Galileo once referred to the Greek alphabet as “man’s greatest discovery”—a tribute to the profound cultural shift it set in motion.
UNESCO’s recognition arrives with no financial burden for the organization. Greece has pledged to support events and activities associated with the day. But more than an administrative note, this decision affirms the importance of cultural continuity, multilingualism, and intellectual heritage in a globalized world. It invites both Greek speakers and philhellenes—wherever they may live—to pause, reconnect, and reflect on the deeper significance of a language that has shaped the contours of human thought.
For the Greek American community and for Hellenic communities across the globe, February 9 will now carry added meaning. It becomes an annual moment not just to celebrate a language, but to reaffirm the values it has carried across centuries—curiosity, dialogue, inquiry, and imagination.