April 20: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On April 20, 1972, Apollo 16's Orion module touched down on the Moon — just one of many historic milestones this day has witnessed across science, exploration, and justice.
About April 20
April 20 carries a surprising streak of scientific firsts. In 1862, Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard wrapped up the landmark experiment that debunked spontaneous generation. Four decades later, in 1902, Marie and Pierre Curie successfully refined radium chloride, opening a new era in physics and medicine. Then in 1972, Apollo 16's lunar module Orion — crewed by John Young and Charles Duke — settled onto the Moon's surface, extending humanity's reach into space.
The day also carries heavy moments of reckoning. In 1945, with the Second World War nearing its end, Adolf Hitler marked his 56th birthday by awarding Iron Crosses to Hitler Youth boy soldiers in what would be his final trip above ground from the Führerbunker. In 1999, the Columbine High School massacre horrified the world. And in 2021, a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all charges in the murder of George Floyd — a verdict that resonated globally.
Beyond history's heaviest chapters, April 20 hosts lighter observances. The United Nations celebrates Chinese Language Day, runners tackle the legendary Boston Marathon, and cannabis culture embraces the informally iconic "420." Whether you're honoring linguistic heritage or simply respecting a humble lima bean, there's something on this date for everyone.
Holidays & Observances on April 20
- 420 (cannabis culture)
- Evacuee Flag Day (Finland)
- UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)
Fun & National Days on April 20
- Boston Marathon Day — Cheer on thousands of runners tackling the world's oldest annual marathon — or just enjoy the spectacles along the route.
- Doge Day — Much wow. Very celebrate. Post your favorite Shiba Inu meme and embrace the internet's most wholesome dog.
- Lima Bean Respect Day — Give the humble lima bean its due — steam some, season them, and reconsider your childhood opinion.
- National Cheddar Fries Day — Smother a batch of fries in melted cheddar and call it lunch — no apologies necessary.
- National Cold Brew Day — Skip the hot stuff and sip a slow-steeped cold brew to honor coffee's smoothest iteration.
- National Look Alike Day — Find your celebrity doppelgänger or dress like your best friend and own the twin energy.
- National Pineapple Upside-down Cake Day — Flip tradition upside down with a buttery, caramelized pineapple ring cake fresh from the oven.
- Patriots' Day — Commemorate the opening battles of the American Revolution, celebrated with reenactments and marathons.
- Volunteer Recognition Day — Thank someone who gives their time freely — volunteers deserve a round of applause today.
On This Day in History
- 1303 — Pope Boniface VIII issued a papal bull officially establishing the Sapienza University of Rome, one of Europe's oldest universities.
- 1657 — Religious freedom was formally extended to Jewish residents of New Amsterdam, a pivotal early step toward pluralism in what became New York City.
- 1792 — France declared war on the King of Hungary and Bohemia, igniting the French Revolutionary Wars that would reshape European politics.
- 1861 — Robert E. Lee resigned his United States Army commission to take command of Virginia's forces, a fateful turning point in the American Civil War.
- 1862 — Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard completed their experiment disproving spontaneous generation, transforming biology and germ theory.
- 1902 — Pierre and Marie Curie successfully refined radium chloride, a breakthrough that laid the foundation for modern radiation therapy.
- 1914 — The Ludlow Massacre killed nineteen striking men, women, and children in Colorado, galvanizing American labor reform movements.
- 1946 — The League of Nations officially dissolved, transferring its remaining authority and mission to the newly formed United Nations.
- 1961 — The CIA-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba collapsed in failure, a major Cold War embarrassment for the United States.
- 1972 — Apollo 16's lunar module Orion, crewed by John Young and Charles Duke, landed on the Moon for the fifth crewed lunar landing.
- 2008 — Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman in history to triumph in an Indy car race.
- 2021 — Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all charges in the murder of George Floyd, concluding a trial that captivated and divided a nation.
Famous Birthdays on April 20
- 1808 — Napoleon III, First elected President of France and later Emperor of the French Second Empire, guiding France through a turbulent era.
- 1889 — Adolf Hitler, Austrian-born dictator of Nazi Germany whose regime plunged the world into its deadliest conflict and orchestrated the Holocaust.
- 1893 — Joan Miró, Catalan painter and sculptor whose Surrealist canvases brimmed with playful, dreamlike symbolism and bold color.
- 1893 — Harold Lloyd, Silent-film comedian famous for daredevil stunts and his bespectacled everyman persona in Hollywood's golden era.
- 1908 — Lionel Hampton, Jazz vibraphone pioneer and bandleader whose infectious energy helped define the swing era.
- 1923 — Tito Puente, Legendary Latin jazz musician and bandleader whose virtuosic timbales made mambo a global phenomenon.
- 1937 — George Takei, Beloved actor known as Star Trek's Sulu who became a powerful voice for Japanese-American internment awareness and LGBTQ rights.
- 1949 — Jessica Lange, Acclaimed American actress whose luminous performances spanned from Tootsie to American Horror Story, winning multiple Oscars and Emmys.
- 1955 — Svante Pääbo, Swedish geneticist awarded the Nobel Prize for sequencing Neanderthal DNA and founding the field of paleogenomics.
- 1972 — Carmen Electra, Model and actress who became a pop-culture icon through Baywatch and a string of comedic film roles.