Why April 23rd is National Shakespeare Day—and how to celebrate with “t,” “eth,” and a fair share of verbal duels

Each April 23rd, word-lovers, actors, students, and rogue Elizabethan enthusiasts come together in celebration of a man whose words have shaped our language more than any other: William Shakespeare. Though the exact date of his birth remains uncertain—somewhere in late April 1564—the 23rd has long been honored as both his birthday and the date of his death in 1616. It is a perfectly poetic loop for a life that gave us everything from Hamlet to Much Ado About Nothing.

Thus was born National Shakespeare Day, a playful, reverent, and slightly unhinged holiday that encourages the world to speak, jest, duel, and monologue like the Bard himself. Whether thou be scholar or fool, soldier or schoolchild, all are welcome to don the mantle of Shakespearean speech for a day.

But how, exactly, dost one speaketh like Shakespeare? Let us embark on a journey through linguistic merriment, literary homage, and the many ways this day doth bloom with drama.

A Brief Life of the Bard

William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, remains the most influential writer in the English language. His plays, poems, and sonnets explore human nature with astonishing depth, while his inventiveness with language continues to resonate centuries later.

He coined phrases like “green-eyed monster,” “wild-goose chase,” and “break the ice.” He gave us tragic lovers (Romeo and Juliet), brooding princes (Hamlet), ambitious schemers (Macbeth), and joyous jesters (Twelfth Night). His work contains multitudes—humor and horror, beauty and brutality, wordplay and wisdom.

April 23rd is thus more than a calendar mark—it is a rallying cry for the ongoing relevance of language, performance, and poetic invention.

How to Speaketh Like the Bard: A Practical Guide for Modern Day Merrymaking

Let “t” Be Thy Guide

Instead of “it,” use “’t.” A simple change, but one that instantly sounds more Bard-worthy.

• I’ll do’t. (I’ll do it.)
• ’Tis a fine morning.
• I love thee more than words can wield the matter—for thou art my light, my breath, my…uh, brunch date.

Add “-eth” to Thy Verbs (Verily!)

Using the “eth” ending—archaic third person singular verb conjugation—transforms any sentence into a dramatic proclamation.

• She runneth to the store.
• He maketh good coffee.
• The Wi-Fi worketh not, and I am sore vexed.

Learn the Bard’s Best Insults

No one throws shade like Shakespeare. On this day, abandon petty slang and embrace cutting lines like:

• “Thy brain is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage.”
• “Peace, filthy worm!”
• “Thou art a boil, a plague sore, an embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood.”
• Or the ever-simple: “Thou art as crooked as the serpent that did sting Julius Caesar.”

Use Thee, Thou, and Thine

These are second-person pronouns that signal intimacy (or disdain). Roughly:

• “Thou” = You (subject)
• “Thee” = You (object)
• “Thy/Thine” = Your/Yours

Example: “Thou art the fairest in all the land. I give this bouquet to thee. May thy day be filled with joy.”

Speak in Iambic Pentameter (Or Try’t, at Least)

Ten syllables per line, alternating unstressed and stressed beats, is the classic Shakespearean rhythm.

• “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”
• “I lost my keys, and now I curse the stars.”

It needeth not be perfect—what matters is rhythm, intention, and perhaps a well-timed sigh.

Thou Mayest Celebrate Thusly: Activities for National Shakespeare Day

1. Recite a Monologue in Public

Surprise thy coworkers or roommates with a full-throated rendition of Macbeth’s “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…” or Juliet’s balcony soliloquy. For extra flair, stand on a table or stare longingly into the distance.

2. Host a Shakespearean Roast

Gather friends and trade playful insults from the canon. Points for delivery, flourishes, and dramatic flouncing. Try mixing in your own invented epithets: “Thou mangled warp of simpering vapors!”

3. Stage a “Pop-Up Play”

Take one act from a Shakespeare play and stage it with modern props. Othello with iPhones, Hamlet in a subway station, Twelfth Night as a karaoke night gone awry.

4. Rename Everyday Objects

• Coffee = “Elixir of waking souls”
• Car = “Chariot of combustion and haste”
• Cell phone = “The glowing slab which stealeth all joy”

5. Eat and Drink in Elizabethan Fashion

A feast of roast fowl, honeyed breads, and a flagon of ale may be in order. Or simply recite a sonnet to your sandwich. Remember: every lunch break can be a banquet.

In Schools and Theatres: Institutional Homage

Across the U.S. and the world, schools celebrate Shakespeare Day by encouraging students to dress in period garb, perform scenes, and read sonnets aloud. Some classrooms swap out modern language for Bard-speak, transforming math into “ye reckoning of numbers” and science into “philosophical musings upon nature’s laws.”

Theatres, meanwhile, honor the day with staged readings, special matinees, and workshops on verse and swordplay. The Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, and dozens of repertory groups host live streams, performances, and public readings.

The Enduring Charm of Talking Like Shakespeare

Why pretend to be Shakespearean for a day? Because it’s fun. Because it’s language at play. Because it reminds us that English is alive, mutable, and theatrical at its core.

There’s a certain joy in replacing mundane greetings with, “Hail, friend, what tidings bringest thou?” Or bidding someone goodbye with, “Fare thee well; may angels sing thee to thy rest.”

It invites a sense of drama into daily life. And while Shakespeare’s words may sound ancient, his themes—love, jealousy, ambition, foolishness, revenge—are as relevant as ever. To speak like him is to remember that all the world’s a stage, and we are merely players.

All’s Well That Speaketh Well

On this most storied of April days, whether thou be in a cubicle or a cottage, a classroom or castle, take a moment to channel the Bard. Let thy tongue twist with “thee” and “thou.” Let thy insults cut with wit. Let thy laughter ringeth loud. And perchance, let thy soul speaketh what the heart wouldst hide.

For this, dear friends, is National Shakespeare Day. A time to remember that words can move mountains, change hearts, and spark laughter with just a twist of the tongue.

Speak boldly, monologue mightily, and remember: “Brevity is the soul of wit”—but today, thou art permitted to be gloriously long-winded.

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