World Poetry Day, celebrated annually on March 21, was inspired by Greek poet Michael Mitra in the fall of 1997. Mitra proposed to the Writers' Society of Greece that a specific day be established for the celebration of poetry, akin to celebrations in other countries. His suggestion eventually led to the recognition of March 21 for this purpose, influenced by the connection between the themes of light and darkness in poetry.

The choice of March 21 also coincides with the vernal equinox, symbolizing the balance of light and dark. Poet Lydia Stefanou championed this date, noting that it mirrors the duality in poetry, which often encompasses both the joyful and the mournful aspects of human experience. The inaugural World Poetry Day took place in 1998 in the old postal building at Kotzia Square in Athens, marking the beginning of a tradition aimed at celebrating poetic expression.

Stefanou, recognized as a prominent voice in post-war Greek poetry, articulated that the first day of spring was aptly chosen as a celebration of poetry due to its symbolic connotations. The article emphasizes the cultural significance of this day in Greece and highlights the broader implications of poetry as a universal form of art that seeks to resonate with the complexities of life.