Rumi Day
Dive into one of history’s greatest wordsmiths, the 13th Century Persian poet Rumi who has become one of the most widely-read and oldest artists of all time.
Celebrate Rumi's timeless wisdom and cross-cultural legacy to engage literary enthusiasts, educators, and mindfulness-seeking audiences with poetry-driven content and cultural programming.
- Rumi's most-quoted verses: which poem resonates with you?
- From Islamic scholar to world's most-read poet: Rumi's 800-year legacy
- Host a Rumi poetry reading or discussion event for your community
- Curate a Rumi-inspired wellness or mindfulness campaign
Rumi was born in 1207 although it is unclear of the exact location. Some scholars argue that he was born in Balkh, which would be modern-day Afghanistan, while some disagree and say that he was born in Wakhsh, now in modern-day Tajikistan. In his early life, Rumi was an Islamic Jurist before finally turning to poetry at the age of 37.
Even though he came to writing at a later stage in his life than most poets, that certainly didn’t hold him back. The majority of his works were written in Persian but were able to cross across borders and were appreciated by many different nationalities and ethnicities. He managed to build up a sizeable audience across Iran, Persia, Turkey, and Greece, for instance.
Even though Rumi died in 1273, his legacy has been extremely impressive ever since. His poems have been translated into numerous language and he still has a very strong English-language following to this day. You might be surprised to learn that he is the best-selling poet in the USA, even in this modern day and age!