To report an error when this list is currently on the Main Page, see Main Page errors. Please remember that this list defers to the supporting articles, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
Before making a suggestion, please read the selected anniversaries guidelines. Please remember that this list usually defers to supporting pages when there is disagreement, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
Q1: Why is [Insert event here], an event that is "more important and significant" than all the others that are currently listed, not posted?
A1: Relative article quality along with the mix of topics already listed are often deciding factors in what gets posted. Any given day of the year can have a great many important or significant historical events. The problem is that there is generally only room on the Main Page to list about 5 events at a time, so not everything can be posted.
As stated on Wikipedia:FAQ/Main Page, the items and events posted on the Main Page are chosen based more on how well they are written, not based on how much important or significant their subjects are. It is easier for admins to select a well-written, cited, verifiable article over a poor one versus trying to determine objectively how much a subject is important or significant.
Keep in mind that the quality requirements only apply to the selected bolded article, not the other links. Thus, an event may qualify for multiple dates in a year if there is an article written in a summary style and an article providing detailed content; if one of those pages have cleanup issues, the other page can be bolded as an alternate.
Another criterion is to maintain some variety of topics, and not exhibit, just for example, tech-centrism, or the belief that the world stops at the edge of the English-speaking world. Many days have a large pool of potential articles, so they will rotate in and out every year to give each one some Main Page exposure. In addition, an event is not posted if it is also the subject of this year's scheduled featured article or featured picture.
Q2: There are way too many 20th-century events listed. Why aren't there more events from the 19th century and before?
Q3: This page seems to be biased toward events based in [Insert country or region here]. What can be done about it?
A3: This again is attributed to the systemic bias of Wikipedia. Many users are generally more interested in working on good, well-written articles pertaining to their home country. Since this is the English Wikipedia, there will be more English-speaking users, and thus more articles pertaining to English-speaking countries. And if there are more users who are from the United States, there will probably be more well-written articles about events based in the United States. Again, if you would like to further help mitigate the systemic bias in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias.
Q4: Why is the birthday/death anniversary of [Insert name here] not listed?
A4: There are only four slots available for birth and death anniversaries. As with the events, article quality and diversity in time period, geography, and reason for notability are all contributing factors in whether an article gets selected for inclusion.
Q5: Are the holidays/observances listed in any particular order?
A5: Yes, there is a specified order: International observances first, then alphabetically by where observed.
Q6: Some of the holidays/observances that are listed have dates in parentheses beside them. What do they mean?
A6: There are two reasons that some holidays/observances have dates next to them:
Non-Gregorian-based holidays/observances are marked with the current year as a reminder to others that their dates do in fact vary from year to year.
National Days, Independence Days, and other holidays celebrating the nationhood of a country are generally marked by the year of the significant historic date being observed.
Today's featured article for September 1, 2024
Wikipedia:Today's featured article/September 1, 2024
Attack on Sender Gleiwitz was just one of countless German provocations. As the starting point of WWII I'd chose either Westerplatte or Wieluń. If you really want to pick an earlier date it would have to be the Lupków Pass, since it was the first armed engagement. [[User:Halibutt|Halibutt]] 07:40, Sep 2, 2004 (UTC)
I thought the Attack on Sender Gleiwitz was the final German provocation before the large scale invasion to Poland (starting with Westerplatte or Wieluń...) that was why I picked it. No ? -- PFHLai 13:11, 2004 Sep 2 (UTC)
Well, attack on Gleiwitz radio transmitter was simply the best known since it was best advertised by German propaganda. However, I'd rather mention it on August 31, the date it actually happened. IMO a link to it does not belong here. Also, it was neither the final nor the biggest (in terms of casualties), the Germans in fact set the whole Polish border in flames.
I'm not sure what does English historiography say, but the start of WWII in Poland is usually set on either September 1, 4.30 AM (bombardement of Wieluń) or September 1, 4.45 (Westerplatte). Definitely not August 31, 2 AM. I'd propose something like that:
Mention of the Sender Gleiwitz should either be moved to Template:August 31 selected anniversaries or simply ommitted. What do you say? [[User:Halibutt|Halibutt]] 13:33, Sep 2, 2004 (UTC)
Two issues with this hook. "Natives" is a word usually avoided nowadays because of the negative connotations it has acquired. Maybe substitute "indigenous"? Also, "local" in "local natives" is surely redundant? How about "was destroyed by the indigenous people"? Awien (talk) 01:18, 25 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
दुलाराम जी सहारण एक राजस्थानी भाषा गा साहित्यकार हैं, थारो जलम पन्द्रा सितम्बर उन्नीसो छीन्तर में राजस्थान गे चूरू जिले गे गांव - भाडंग में हुयो ! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Muraripareek (talk • contribs) 16:28, 31 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Request restoring 1st September 1939 Poland entry[edit]
Currently it is ineligible with [[1939]] – [[Nazi Germany]] '''[[Invasion of Poland|invaded]]''' Poland at [[Wieluń]] and [[Westerplatte]], starting [[World War II in Europe]]<!--Link to this article since [[World War II#Chronology]] currently states that the overall start of the war has several dates-->. I am not sure I understand why it is ineligible; WWII start date is primary given as 1939, with the early date taking Japan vs China being a minority view - but in any case, there is no dispute regarding the start of the WWII in Europe as 1st September 1939. Further, I've improved bombing of Wieluń and battle of Westerplatte to GAs (well, the second one still needs a review, but I am sure it will be fine). I suggest replacing links to the places (~C class) with the links to the events (GA-class). PS. I'd suggest the following phrasing to avoid the implication those two places where the only ones (or the first) where the war begun - they are the most famous, but only some among the first places the fighting started: Nazi Germanyinvaded Poland at Wieluń and Westerplatte among others, starting World War II in Europe --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here09:24, 12 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Hi, hope this isn't too late -- I'm not very experienced with OTD. I'd like to place a nomination for the Kantō Massacre to run if possible. It's never run OTD before, is a little-known event outside of Asia, has no cleanup tags and is a C-class article last time it was assessed. – Illegitimate Barrister (talk • contribs), 09:23, 31 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]