Holidays Calendar for April 23, 2018
National Sovereignty and Children's Day is a public holiday in Turkey celebrated annually on April 23. It marks the anniversary of the first session of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 1920.
Passover, also known as Pesach, is one of the most significant Jewish holidays. It commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt and the story of the Exodus. This festival commences on the 15th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar and lasts for seven days in Israel and for eight days in the diaspora.
The Feast of Saint George, also known as Saint George’s Day, is celebrated by various Christian churches on April 23 (although for Eastern Orthodox Churches which use the Julian calendar, it falls on May 6 of the Gregorian calendar). In some countries and regions of which Saint George is the patron saint, it is a public holiday.
World Table Tennis Day (WTTD) is an annual international holiday dedicated to one of the most popular sports in the world. It was founded in 2015 by the International Table Tennis Federation.
World Laboratory Day is observed annually on April 23. It was created to celebrate unique workspaces that provide controlled conditions for scientific and technological research, experiments, and measurement, as well as all people working in laboratories around the globe.
Cava is to Spain what Champagne is to France. Although this sparkling wine might be less renowned than its French counterpart, International Cava Day is celebrated not once, but twice a year: on April 23 and July 12.
Chinese Navy Day is observed annually on April 23. It was created to honor the accomplishments of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, also known as the PLA Navy.
Ukrainian Psychologist Day is celebrated on April 23. Although it has not been added on the country’s list of official professional holidays yet, it is widely celebrated by the professional community of Ukrainian psychologists and therapists.
In the United Nations, each official language has its own commemorative day. English Language Day is celebrated on April 23, the date traditionally observed as William Shakespeare's birthday.
In 2010, the United Nations Department of Global Communications established observances dedicated to the UN’s official working languages in order to promote their equal use and celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity. For example, UN Spanish Language Day is celebrated on October 12.
International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day is an annual commemoration held on April 23. On this day, professional writers are encouraged to post their works for free on the Internet.
On April 23, Canada celebrates Canada Book Day, an annual event aimed at promoting books and reading. It is celebrated on the dame date as UNESCO's World Book and Copyright Day.
Castile and León Day (Día de Castilla y León) is an official holiday in the Spanish autonomous community of Castile and León. It is celebrated annually on April 23 to commemorate the Battle of Villalar, which was fought in 1521 during the Revolt of the Comuneros.
Khongjom Day is observed on April 23 in the Indian state of Manipur. It honors the memory of those who died in the 1891 Anglo-Manipur War, fighting to protect Manipur’s independence from the British Empire.
The Spanish autonomous communities of Aragon and Castile and León celebrate the feast of Saint George, observed annually on April 23, as their respective national days. The Day of Aragon commemorates the Battle of Alcoraz, which was an important battle of the Reconquista.
Confederate Memorial Day, also known as Confederate Heroes Day or Confederate Decoration Day in some states, is observed in the Southern United States to honor the memory of Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. It was originally observed on April 26 to commemorate the surrender of the Army of Tennessee at Bennett Place, but these days, its dates in different states vary from January 19 to the second Saturday of October.
Cherry cheesecake would be a nice end of any meal. Why don't you take a piece and enjoy it on National Cherry Cheesecake Day, that falls on April 23?
German Beer is known around the world for its rich taste. Every year Germans have an opportunity to celebrate the beer brewed in their country on German Beer Day, that is April 23. The holiday is celebrated since 1994.
Did you know that the word “muffin” can be used to describe two different types of baked goods? “American” muffins are cupcake-sized quickbreads, whereas “English” muffins are individually portioned yeast-leavened breads. Each type of muffin has its own holiday: National Muffin Day, dedicated to American muffins, is celebrated on February 20, and National English Muffin Day is observed on April 23.
World Book and Copyright Day is a United Nations observance annually held on April 23. It is organized by UNESCO in order to promote reading culture, book publishing, and copyright. The first celebration took place on April 23, 1995.
Other Observances →
Brazil,
United Kingdom,
Denmark,
Spain,
Mexico,
Portugal,
Czech Republic
Scouts’ Day
Saint George is the patron saint of the Scout movement, so some national Scout organizations celebrate his feast day, April 23, as Scouts’ Day. However, actual Scouts’ Day events are usually held on the Sunday closest to April 23.
Thanks to the annual Vale of Evesham’s British Asparagus Festival that kicks off on St. George’s Day, April 23 has become synonymous with the beginning of the asparagus season in the UK and has been dubbed National Asparagus Day.
Festivals on April 23, 2018
- Uzhhorod Cherry Blossom Festival in Uzhhorod, Ukraine
- AfrikaBurn in Tankwa, South Africa
- New Horizon International Youth Festival of Short Films and Animation in Voronezh, Russia
- Stuttgart Spring Festival in Stuttgart, Germany
- Moors and Christians of Alcoy in Alcoy, Spain
- Weifang International Kite Festival in Weifang, China
- Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) in Jakarta, Indonesia
- Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran, Iran
- Moscow International Film Festival in Moscow, Russia
- Tribeca Film Festival in New York, USA
- Bogotá International Book Fair in Bogotá, Colombia
- TRT International April 23 Children’s Festival in Bursa, Turkey
- Georgia Renaissance Festival in Fairburn, USA
- Chartres en lumières (Chartres in Lights) in Chartres, France
- St. Maarten Carnival in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
This Day in History
- 2019 A landslide triggered the collapse of a jade mine in Myanmar, trapping at least 54 miners. The deaths of six people, including two rescuers, were confirmed; the remaining miners are presumed to be dead.
- 2011 Died: John Sullivan, English television screenwriter who created several popular sitcoms, including Only Fools and Horses and Just Good Friends.
- 2007 Died: David Halberstam, American journalist, historian, and non-fiction writer who was awarded the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for journalism.
- 2007 Died: Boris Yeltsin, Russian politician and statesmen who served as the first President of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1999.
- 2005 Co-founder of YouTube Jawed Karim uploaded the first YouTube video, Me at the zoo, that shows him at the San Diego Zoo. As of 2024, it is still available on the site.
- 1998 Died: James Earl Ray, American criminal convicted of the assassination of the civil rights and anti-war activist Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 1996 Died: P. L. Travers (born Helen Lyndon Goff), English novelist, journalist, and actress whose best known work is the Mary Poppins series.
- 1995 Born: Gigi Hadid, American fashion model and television personality. Throughout her career, Hadid has made at least 45 appearances in international Vogue.
- 1990 Died: Paulette Goddard, American actress, a major star of the Paramount Studio in the 1940s. She was married to Charlie Chaplin and Erich Maria Remarque.
- 1990 Born: Dev Patel, British actor who rose to fame with his role as Jamal Malik in the 2008 drama film Slumdog Millionaire, which earned him several awards.
- 1986 Died: Harold Arlen, American composer who created more than 500 songs. One of his best-known songs is the Academy Award-winning ballad "Over the Rainbow".
- 1985 The Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke to replace the original Coca-Cola. The public's response to the change was overwhelmingly negative.
- 1984 Born: Alexandra Kosteniuk, Russian (before 2022) and Swiss (since 2023) chess player, International Grandmaster (since 2004) and former Women's World Chess Champion.
- 1979 Born: Jaime King, American actress and model whose modelling career began when she was 14. Her first major film role was in Pearl Harbor.
- 1977 Born: John Cena, American professional wrestler and actor. A record 16-time world champion as recognized by WWE, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
- 1977 Born: Kal Penn American actor, producer, and civil servant best known for his roles as Kumar in Harold & Kumar and Dr. Kutner on the series House.
- 1975 Died: William Hartnell, English actor who is primarily remembered for originating the role of the Doctor on the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who.
- 1954 Born: Michael Moore, American director, producer, writer, journalist, and political activist best known as the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11.
- 1945 Hermann Göring, Adolf Hitler's designated successor, sent Hitler a telegram asking for permission to assume leadership of the Third Reich.
- 1940 A fire occurred at a dance hall in Natchez, Mississippi, killing 209 people and severely injuring many others. Most victims were African American.
- 1936 Born: Roy Orbison, American singer-songwriter and musician. His best known songs include "Only the Lonely", "Crying", and "Oh, Pretty Woman".
- 1935 The Polish Sejm adopted the so-called April Constitution of Poland that introduced a presidential system with certain elements of authoritarianism.
- 1928 Born: Shirley Temple, film and television actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat. She is one of the best known former child actors; her film career began when she was three.
- 1910 Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech titled "Citizenship in a Republic" at the Sorbonne. A notable passage from the speech is referred to as "The Man in the Arena".
- 1902 Born: Halldór Laxness (born Halldór Guðjónsson), Icelandic writer who was awarded the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature for his vivid epic power.
- 1891 Born: Sergei Prokofiev, Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who is considered to be one of the major composers of the 20th century.
- 1858 Born: Max Planck, German theoretical physicist who was awarded the 1918 Nobel Prize in Physics for his quantum hypothesis. He originated quantum theory.
- 1850 Died: William Wordsworth, English poet who launched the Romantic Age in English literature along with his friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
- 1661 The coronation of Charles II of England took place at Westminster Abbey. He was the monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
- 1655 The Siege of Santo Domingo began during the Anglo-Spanish War. The English forces led by William Penn and Robert Venables failed to capture Hispaniola.
- 1635 The Boston Latin School was founded in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the US.
- 1616 Died: William Shakespeare, English poet, dramatist, and actor who is widely considered to be one of the greatest writers in the English language and the world's pre-eminent playwright.
- 1348 King Edward III of England announced the founding of the Order of the Garter. It is the highest order of chivalry and the most prestigious honor in England.