Holidays Calendar for September 20, 2026
Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the creator and first ruler of the Empire of Haiti, is so respected by his nation that there are two public holidays dedicated to him: Dessalines Day (September 20) and the death anniversary of Dessalines (October 17).
The Peñafrancia Festival is an annual religious festival celebrated in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines in honor of the city’s patron saint, Our Lady of Peñafrancia. It takes place on the Sunday after the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, i.e. on the third or fourth Sunday of September.
Belarusian customs officers have their own professional day – Customs Officer's Day. This day is observed annually on September 20.
Oil Industry Worker's Day is one of the professional days in Azerbaijan. This day was established by the fourth President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in 2001. This day is observed by the workers of oil industry of Azerbaijan every year on September 20.
Entrepreneur's Day is a professional day of all entrepreneurs of the Kyrgyz Republic. This observance was established in 2000 and it annually falls on September 20.
Forestry and Timber Industry Worker's Day is a professional day, that is observed by people, whose profession is connected with forestry and timber industry. This international professional day is observed on the third Sunday in September in a number of CIS member countries.
Social Workers’ Day is an official professional holiday in Moldova. Observed annually on the third Sunday of September, it celebrates the hard work and dedication of all people employed in the field of social welfare.
National Canal Conservation Day in Thailand is celebrated annually on September 20. It was established in 1995 to highlight the importance of khlongs (canals) as historical and cultural landmarks, as well as tourist sites.
Sree Narayana Guru Memorial Day (Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi) is an annual remembrance day observed in the Indian state of Kerala on September 20. It honors a famous Indian social reformer and spiritual leader who fought against the caste system.
The National Punch Day (also referred to as the National Rum Punch Day) is celebrated on September 20. The term “punch” referrers to a wide assortment of drinks, which are typically served at the parties.
If you’re a fan of Tex-Mex cuisine, you absolutely should celebrate National Queso Day on September 20. This unofficial food day was created in honor of a delicious dish that consists of melted cheese and chili peppers.
Fried rice is a popular dish in East Asian, Southeast Asian and a number of South Asian cuisines, as well as in many Western countries, where it was brought by Asian immigrants. Given its popularity, it is not surprising that there is an unofficial holiday dedicated to fried rice. National Fried Rice Day is celebrated annually on September 20.
September 20 is a perfect day for a snack because it is National String Cheese Day. It was created to celebrate a nutritious, tasty and easy-to-eat snack that is popular among cheese lovers around the globe.
September 20 is a perfect day to go out to your favorite pizzeria because it is Pepperoni Pizza Day. This amazing holiday celebrates one of the most popular pizza toppings in the United States.
World Cleanup Day is an annual campaign that focuses on combating the global solid waste problem. Originally held on the third Saturday of September, it was moved to September 20 in December 2023 upon becoming a United Nations observance.
The people of Thailand annually celebrate National Youth Day on September 20. This important holiday commemorates the birthdays of two Kings of Thailand, Chulalongkorn and Ananda Mahidol.
Universal Children’s Day is officially celebrated in Germany on September 20. However, in many parts of the country International Children’s Day (June 1) is more popular.
On September 20, some Spanish-speaking countries (for example, Venezuela, Peru and Uruguay) celebrate Freedom of Speech Day (Día de la Libertad de Expresión de Pensamiento, literally “Freedom of Thought Expression Day”). It is dedicated to freedom of speech and expression, which is one of the fundamental human rights in a democratic society.
On the third Sunday in September every year, the people of Kazakhstan celebrate Mother’s Day. It is an official holiday dedicated to all Kazakhstani mothers, the guardians of the hearth and family traditions. The holiday was initiated by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2012.
This Day in History
- 2019 The September 2019 climate strikes, also known as the Global Week for Future, began. One of the rallies in New York was led by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
- 2014 Died: Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin), American actress, singer, television host, and entrepreneur. Her career spanned over 60 years.
- 2008 A dump truck filled with explosives detonated in front of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 56 people and injuring 266.
- 2005 Died: Simon Wiesenthal, Jewish Austrian writer, Holocaust survivor, and Nazi hunter. He dedicated most of his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals.
- 2003 Born: Thomas Matthew Crooks, American man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, who at the time was the presumptive Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
- 2002 The Kolka-Karmadon rock-ice slide in North Ossetia, Russia killed 125 people, including Russian actor and director Sergei Bodrov Jr.
- 2001 The United States military officially ended its "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons to serve.
- 2000 Died: Gherman Titov, Soviet cosmonaut. He became the second human to orbit the Earth, aboard Vostok 2, preceded by Yuri Gagarin.
- 1993 Died: Erich Hartmann, German fighter pilot during World War II. He is the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare.
- 1990 The South Ossetian Democratic Republic proclaimed itself fully sovereign within the Soviet Union. Today, it is a partially recognized state.
- 1984 Died: Steve Goodman, American singer-songwriter and musician. His best known songs include "City of New Orleans" and "You're The Girl I Love".
- 1979 Emperor Bokassa I of Central Africa was overthrown in a military coup d'état. Following the coup, the Central African Republic was restored.
- 1978 Born: Sarit Hadad (born Sarah Khudadatov), Israeli singer. In October 2009, she was named the best Israeli female singer of the 2000s.
- 1976 Born: Jon Bernthal, American actor who came to prominence for portraying Shane Walsh on The Walking Dead. He is also known for his role as Frank Castle / Punisher in the MCU.
- 1971 Died: Giorgos Seferis, renowned Greek poet-diplomat. He was awarded the 1963 Nobel Prize in Literature for his eminent lyrical writing.
- 1957 Died: Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer of the late Romantic period. His work played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity.
- 1956 Born: Gary Cole, American actor known for his roles as Sheriff Lucas Buck in American Gothic, Vice President Bob Russell in The West Wing, Kent Davison in Veep, and more.
- 1956 Born: Steve Coleman, American saxophone player, composer, and band leader. He contributed significantly to contemporary jazz.
- 1956 Born: Gary Cole, American television and film actor, voice artist, known for his roles in the series Midnight Caller, American Gothic, and Crusade.
- 1948 Died: Husain Salaahuddin, Maldivian writer, poet, essayist, and scholar, who contributed significantly to early Maldivian literature.
- 1948 Born: George R. R. Martin, American author, screenwriter, and television producer, known for his series of epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire.
- 1946 The first Cannes Film Festival began. Currently, the Cannes International Film Festival is one of the world's most publicized film festivals.
- 1936 Born: Andrew Davies, British novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for his adaptations of Vanity Fair and Pride and Prejudice.
- 1934 Born: Sophia Loren, acclaimed Italian-French actress who won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Two Women.
- 1932 Died: Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, Northern Paiute religious leader who is known as the founder of the Ghost Dance movement.
- 1925 Born: Ananda Mahidol (King Rama VIII), the eighth monarch of Thailand from the House of Chakri. He was crowned at the age of nine.
- 1909 The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the South Africa Act 1909, creating the Union of South Africa from several British colonies.
- 1863 Died: Jacob Grimm, German philologist and mythologist who worked with his brother Wilhelm. He is known as the editor of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
- 1854 The Battle of the Alma was fought during the Crimean War. In the first battle of the war, an Anglo-French force defeated the Russian army.
- 1853 Born: Chulalongkorn (King Rama V), the fifth monarch of Siam from the House of Chakri. His reign was characterized by immense reforms.
- 1833 Born: Ernesto Teodoro Moneta, Italian journalist, nationalist, and pacifist who won the 1907 Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with Louis Renault.
- 1778 Born: Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, Baltic German officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, a renowned cartographer and explorer.
- 1519 Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan began his journey to the East Indies. He departed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with about 270 men.
- 1378 The Western Schism within the Roman Catholic Church began when Cardinal Robert of Geneva was elected as Avignon Pope Clement VI.