The tradition of celebrating the Day of Belarusian Written Language originated in 1994, when the first celebrations in honor of the Day of Belarusian Written Language and Printing took place in Polotsk on August 28.
On March 26, 1998, Presidential Decree No. 157 "On State Holidays, Holidays and Memorable Dates in the Republic of Belarus" was adopted, which established that the Day of Belarusian Written Language would be celebrated annually on the first Sunday of September. From that moment on, the holiday received an especially wide scope and support at the highest level.
The Day of Belarusian Written Language is traditionally held in cities that are historical centers of culture, science, literature and printing. Polotsk, Turov, Novogrudok, Nesvizh, Orsha, Pinsk, Zaslavl, Mstislavl, Mir, Kamenets, Postavy, Shklov, Borisov, Smorgon, Khoiniki, Gantsevichi, Glubokoe, Bykhov, Shchuchin, Rogachev, Ivanovo and Slonim have already become the capitals of a large-scale celebration.
