World Storytelling Day

Did you know that an international event started in Sweden in 2001?
“Världsberättardagen – World Storytelling Day”

At the turn of the millennium in 2001, during a storytelling festival, the storytelling guru Ulf Ärnström had an idea of how to spread and enhance the art of oral storytelling. He believed that we needed to introduce something recurrent, such as a day when all the storytellers would tell stories under a common theme.

– We’ll think big right away, Ulf and his friends concluded.
– Let us call it World Storytelling Day!

So, the day was chosen, when the length of day equals that of night (that is: on the Vernal Equinox itself). The 20th of March* became the international day of storytelling.

2001 was when it started in Sweden, in 2002 it spread to the other Scandinavian countries, then followed Canada and France, and by 2005, 25 countries from all over the world had joined. Today, World Storytelling Day is well established, worldwide. The ambition is that during this day, as many people as possible throughout the world should go out and tell and listen to stories, in different places and in different contexts.

Every year, a common theme is chosen. This is done by modern means via Facebook. Over 13 000 storytellers follow the World Storytelling Day group, where storytellers from all over the world discuss and decide on each year’s theme, in a disciplined manner. Thanks to this day, the art of oral storytelling has been noticed by media, and an increased interest in our intangible cultural heritage has been seen.

The theme of 2025 will be Deep water, a theme with many possible interpretations, such as a character in trouble, stories of magic waters or stories tied to deep water such as the sea, a lake or a river.
The theme of 2024 was Building bridges.
The theme of 2023 was Together we can.
The theme of 2022 was Lost and found – an expressive theme, embracing the past two years, when many had suffered. However, we also gained much knowledge about the world and ourselves during those years, and the stories told were intended to bring hope of a bright future to the listeners.

After more than 20 years out in the world, World Storytelling Day has finally found its way home, to the town where it all began.

*Of course, other dates may be chosen to celebrate World Storytelling Day. What is important is that we continue to tell stories about everything, big and small. 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch: kontakt@sagobygden.se