National Beat Poetry Day

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Dec 22, 2023 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Mar 30, 2022
Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath
Every year, October 7 is celebrated as National Beat Poetry Day.

Where is National Beat Poetry Day celebrated?

National Beat Poetry Day is celebrated in the United States. However, with the rapid fame of Beat poetry around the world, it's also celebrated in many other countries.

Who is National Beat Poetry Day celebrated by?

This day is celebrated by Beat Poets or 'Beats', along with writers, musicians, and artists.

When did National Beat Poetry Day first start?

National Beat Poetry Day began on October 7, 1955.

Who started National Beat Poetry Day?

This day originated after the famous recitation by Allen Ginsberg of his collection of poems, 'Howl'.

History And Timelines

The below timeline of historical facts will fascinate you about the origin of this day!

Traditions And Customs

This day is celebrated by reading Beat Poetry, to ourselves and aloud to others, to make sure we don't lose the tradition and help keep these poems alive.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate National Beat Poetry Day

This day can be celebrated through different Beat Poetry events centered around the spoken word and spreading awareness about the power of poetry.

Facts And Stats

  • On this day you should remember that the prime goal of the Beat Generation was to challenge mainstream culture and conventional writing strategies.
  • On this day, learn about Beat Poetry, including that it is written in free verse.
  • Another thing to know on this day is that the major inspiration for Beat Poetry was jazz.

Beat Poetry Origin

A new Beat Generation was seen emerging from New York City during the '40s.

1940s

Fathers Of The Beat Generation

Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs were said to be the leading figures of the Beat Generation.

1950s

'Howl' Recitation

Allen Ginsberg's famous poem 'Howl' was recited in San Francisco and will soon be a landmark in the history of Beat literature.

October 7, 1955

'Howl And Other Poems' Controversies

Following the events of publishing 'Howl and Other Poems' more than 500 copies of this collection were seized by US customs with the remark 'obscene'.

1957

The Beat Party

The 1960 presidential election saw the emergence of the political party, 'Beat Party'.

1960

When did Beat Poetry begin?

Beat Poetry began during the '40s.

Who was the most famous Beat Poet?

Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs were the leading figures of the Beat Generation.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Tuesday, October 06, 2020
  • Wednesday, October 06, 2021
  • Thursday, October 06, 2022
  • Friday, October 06, 2023
  • Sunday, October 06, 2024

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

Pratiti Nath picture

Pratiti NathBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

A Master's in Biotechnology from Presidency University and a Bachelor's in Microbiology from Calcutta University. Pratiti holds expertise in writing science and healthcare articles, and their inputs and feedback help writers create insightful content. They have interests in heritage, history, and climate change issues and have written articles for various websites across multiple subjects. Their experience also includes working with eco-friendly startups and climate-related NGOs.

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