National Laura Day
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
The Name That Shaped the Sonnet. The name's literary significance crystallized on April 6, 1327, when Italian poet Francesco Petrarch reportedly first saw Laura de Noves in a church in Avignon, France. He spent the rest of his life writing about her, producing366 poemscollected in the Canzoniere. That body of work refined and popularized the sonnet form, which became known as the Petrarchan sonnet and influenced centuries of European poetry
History
The Name That Shaped the Sonnet. The name's literary significance crystallized on April 6, 1327, when Italian poet Francesco Petrarch reportedly first saw Laura de Noves in a church in Avignon, France. He spent the rest of his life writing about her, producing366 poemscollected in the Canzoniere. That body of work refined and popularized the sonnet form, which became known as the Petrarchan sonnet and influenced centuries of European poetry
How It's Celebrated
National Laura Day is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.