Holidays Calendar for September 21, 2020
The Republic of Armenia annually celebrates one of its most important public holidays – Independence Day – on September 21.
The whole month of September is full of various celebrations, that are awaited by the nation. One of the occasions is Independence Day on September 21, that celebrates the anniversary of gaining independence from Great Britain in 1981.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, formerly known as Founder’s Day, is a public holiday in Ghana celebrated on September 21. It is the birth anniversary of the first prime minister and president of Ghana who led the country to independence from the United Kingdom.
People of Malta celebrate national holiday of Independence Day every year on September 21. This holiday celebrates the day, when Malta gained independence from Great Britain in 1964.
Japan is known to be the country of long-living people. Elderly people are respected there and even have their own public holiday, that is known as Respect for the Aged Day. This holiday is annually observed on the third Monday in September.
Nativity of the Theotokos is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of Eastern Orthodox liturgical year. Orthodox Christianity celebrates this feast annually on September 21.
The Fast of Gedalia (Tzom Gedalya) is a Jewish fast day. It falls on 3 Tishrei, therefore it is also referred to as the fast of the seventh month (Tishrei is the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar).
Teej is as Nepalese religious festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Parvati and her union with Shiva. It is designated as a public holiday, but only women have a day off on the occasion of the festival.
Zero Emissions Day (also ZeDay), is annually observed by people in many countries around the world on September 21. The main message of this event is “Giving our planet a day off a year”.
Number of organizations supporting people with dementia initiated observation of World Alzheimer's Month, that is held every year in September. The most important events are held on September 21, that is World Alzheimer's Day.
World Minigolf Day, also known as Miniature Golf Day, is observed annually on September 21. It celebrates an offshoot of golf that focuses solely on the putting aspect of the game.
Cebu Press Freedom Day (Araw ng Malayang Pamamahayag sa Cebu) is a special non-working holiday in the Philippine province of Cebu. It is celebrated annually on September 21, coinciding with the anniversary of the proclamation of martial law in the Philippines.
National Fisheries Day (Wan Pramong Haeng Chat), also translated as National Fishing Day, is celebrated in Thailand on September 21 every year. It commemorates the establishment of the country’s Department of Fisheries in 1921.
Brazil, probably, is the only one country in the world that can boast two Arbor Days. The observances take place in September and March. The main events of Arbor Day (Dia da Árvore) take place on September 21, while due to climate characteristics this day is also observed during the last week in March in some of the Brazilian states.
The Battle of Kulikovo was one of the most important battles in the history of Russia. The battle was fought on September 8 in 1380. This day is known in Russia as Battle of Kulikovo Day, that is annually observed on September 21.
Anniversaries and Memorial Days →
Philippines
Commemoration of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines
September 21 is the Commemoration of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. It commemorates the signing of Proclamation No. 1081 that marked the beginning of the 14-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos.
Pecan cookie is one of the most popular kinds of homemade cookies. If you like pecan nuts in your cookies, don't forget to celebrate the National Pecan Cookie Day on September 21.
The spring equinox falls in the Southern hemisphere on September 22 or 23. This day is known as the beginning of the spring there. However, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia celebrate Spring Day on September 21, one or two days before the actual equinox.
September 21 is a perfect day to curl up in a cozy armchair with a nice mug of delicious masala chai since it is National Chai Day. This unofficial holiday was created to celebrate an Indian tea beverage that has successfully made its way to the West.
International Day of Peace is one of the observances, established by the UN General Assembly. This international day is observed annually on September 21.
National Volunteer Day (NVDay) in Ghana is celebrated on September 21. It was established by the GhanaThink Foundation, a non-governmental, non-profit organization that aims to promote volunteerism and volunteer activities.
Festivals on September 21, 2020
- Tartu International Literary Festival Prima Vista in Tartu, Estonia
- Subotica International Festival of Children’s Theatres in Subotica, Serbia
- St. Louis Renaissance Festival in Wentzville, USA
- Warsaw Autumn Music Festival in Warsaw, Poland
- San Sebastian International Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain
- Atlanta Film Festival in Atlanta, USA
- Kaunas International Film Festival in Kaunas, Lithuania
- Züri-Wiesn (Swiss Oktoberfest) in Zürich, Switzerland
- New York Film Festival in New York, USA
- Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
- Geneva International Jewish Film Festival in Geneva, Switzerland
- IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival in Varna, Bulgaria
- Floriade in Canberra, Australia
- Time-Based Art Festival in Portland (OR), USA
- Berlin Biennale in Berlin, Germany
This Day in History
- 2021 Died: Willie Garson, American actor known for his roles as Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City, Mozzie on White Collar, Gerard Hirsch on Hawaii Five-O, and Martin Lloyd on Stargate SG-1.
- 2018 Greek-American LGBT activist and drag performer Zacharias "Zak" Kostopoulos was beaten to death in the center of Athens. He died while on the way to the hospital.
- 2013 Four unidentified gunmen attacked Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The attack lasted for three days and resulted in 67 deaths.
- 2012 Died: Bill King, Royal Navy officer, yachtsman, and author. He was the oldest participant in the first solo non-stop, around-the-world yacht race.
- 2007 Died: Alice Ghostley, American actress best known for her roles as Esmeralda on Bewitched and Bernice Clifton on Designing Women.
- 1999 The 921 earthquake, also known as Jiji earthquake, occurred in Taiwan, killing over 2,400 people and destroying more than 50,700 buildings.
- 1993 Russian President Boris Yeltsin tried to dissolve the country's parliament, triggering a constitutional crisis that was resolved by using military force.
- 1987 Died: Jaco Pastorius, American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and electric bass player. He is best known for his work with Weather Report.
- 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Supreme Court justice. She was appointed by Ronald Reagan and served for 25 years.
- 1981 Born: Nicole Richie, American fashion designer, actress, author, and television personality. She rose to prominence through reality television.
- 1974 Died: Jacqueline Susann, American author whose best known works are Valley of the Dolls, The Love Machine, and Once Is Not Enough.
- 1971 Born: Luke Wilson, American actor known for his roles in Bottle Rocket, Blue Streak, Legally Blonde, The Royal Tenenbaums, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and other films.
- 1971 Died: Bernardo Houssay, Argentine physiologist who was awarded the 1947 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his study of pituitary hormones.
- 1969 Born: Billie Porter, American actor and singer. He is known for his role as Lola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots and for starring in the television series Pose.
- 1965 Frédéric Beigbeder, French author, literary critic, and television presenter. His best known novels include Holiday in a Coma, Windows of the World, and A French Novel.
- 1964 The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber made its maiden flight. One engine had to be shut down shortly after take-off.
- 1957 Died: Haakon VII, the first king of Norway after the dissolution of its personal union with Sweden. He played a pivotal role in the resistance to Nazis.
- 1956 Born: Marta Kauffman, American screenwriter and television producer, best known as the co-creator of the sitcom Friends, along with David Crane.
- 1952 Born: Anneliese Michel, German woman who was believed to be possessed by demons and had to undergo Catholic exorcism rites in 1975.
- 1950 Born: Bill Murray, American actor and comedian. He is best known for his roles in the films Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Lost in Translation etc.
- 1947 Born: Stephen King, American author of contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. He has published over 65 novels and novellas.
- 1937 J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again was first published in the UK. The book received wide critical acclaim.
- 1934 Born: Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist. One of his best known songs is "Hallelujah", first released in 1984.
- 1921 An explosion occurred at a BASF plant in Oppau, Germany, killing at least 500 people. It was a tower silo storing fertilizers that exploded.
- 1904 Died: Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kek, also known as Chief Joseph, American tribal leader who was renowned as a humanitarian and peacemaker.
- 1897 The famous editorial "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" was published in The Sun (New York). It was written by Francis Pharcellus Church.
- 1872 Born: Henry Tingle Wilde, the Chief Officer of the RMS Titanic. A number of survivors said that Wilde had committed suicide as the ship sank.
- 1866 Born: Charles Nicolle, French bacteriologist who was awarded the 1928 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on epidemic typhus.
- 1866 Born: Herbert George Wells, English novelist, historian, and journalist. He is best known for his science fiction works, such as The War of the Worlds.
- 1860 Died: Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher who influenced many thinkers. His best known work is The World as Will and Representation.
- 1832 Died: Walter Scott, Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet. His famous novels include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley etc.
- 1776 The Great Fire of New York broke out in the early days of the military occupation of the city by British forces during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1558 Died: Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 to 1558. He was the last Holy Roman Emperor to receive a papal coronation.
- 1452 Born: Girolamo Savonarola, Italian Dominican friar and preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He was known for his calls for Christian renewal.
- 1217 The Battle of Matthew's Day was fought during the Livonian Crusade. Counties of ancient Estonia were defeated by German crusaders.