March 20: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On March 20, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte strode back into Paris at the head of a massive army, launching his legendary Hundred Days comeback — one of history's boldest second acts.
About March 20
March 20 has a flair for dramatic returns and world-changing ideas. In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte marched into Paris backed by 140,000 regular troops and roughly 200,000 volunteers, igniting his famed Hundred Days rule after escaping exile on Elba. Exactly a century later, in 1916, Albert Einstein submitted his groundbreaking paper on general relativity to the journal Annalen der Physik, permanently reshaping our understanding of gravity, space, and time.
The date also carries a strong current of national renewal. Tunisia celebrates Independence Day each March 20, marking its freedom from French colonial rule in 1956. The United Nations dedicates the date to the International Day of Happiness, reminding the world that well-being matters as much as economic growth. Francophones everywhere celebrate International Francophonie Day, honoring a language shared by hundreds of millions across the globe.
From the page to the podium, March 20 has launched cultural milestones too. Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin hit shelves in 1852, galvanizing the abolitionist movement in the United States. In 1985, Libby Riddles became the first woman to conquer the grueling 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and in 1987 the FDA approved AZT, offering the first real hope in the fight against AIDS.
Holidays & Observances on March 20
- Great American MeatOut (United States)
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956.
- International Day of Happiness (United Nations)
- International Francophonie Day (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie), and its related observances: UN French Language Day (United Nations)
- National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States)
- World Sparrow Day
Fun & National Days on March 20
- Alien Abduction Day — Keep your eyes on the skies and maybe pack a small overnight bag — just in case extraterrestrial visitors decide you're ready.
- Bibliomania Day — Honor your overflowing bookshelves by buying one more volume you swear you'll read this time.
- Hufflepuff Pride Day — Don your black and yellow, celebrate loyalty and hard work, and show the most underrated Hogwarts house some love.
- International Astrology Day — Check your horoscope and toast your Pisces friends as the Sun enters their dreamy, intuitive sign.
- Crawfish Cravers Awareness Day — Boil up a spicy batch, invite your hungriest friends, and let those mudbugs shine at the center of the table.
- Atheist Pride Day
- Eid al-Fitr
On This Day in History
- 1602 — The Dutch East India Company was founded, becoming a trading powerhouse that shaped global commerce for two centuries.
- 1616 — Sir Walter Raleigh walked free from the Tower of London after thirteen years behind bars, resuming his restless adventures.
- 1815 — Napoleon reentered Paris at the head of a massive army, kicking off his dramatic Hundred Days return from exile on Elba.
- 1852 — Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin was published, igniting fierce debate over slavery in antebellum America.
- 1854 — The Republican Party of the United States was organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, giving rise to a major political force.
- 1890 — German Emperor Wilhelm II dismissed Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the architect of German unification, from his powerful post.
- 1916 — Albert Einstein submitted his landmark paper on general relativity to Annalen der Physik, revolutionizing modern physics.
- 1922 — The USS Langley was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, launching a new era of naval warfare.
- 1956 — Tunisia officially gained independence from France, ending decades of colonial rule and beginning a new chapter as a sovereign nation.
- 1985 — Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the brutal 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race through the Alaskan wilderness.
- 1987 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved AZT, the first antiretroviral medication to offer hope against the AIDS epidemic.
- 1999 — Legoland California opened in Carlsbad, becoming the first Legoland theme park built outside of Europe.
Famous Birthdays on March 20
- -43 — Ovid, Roman poet whose Metamorphoses became one of the most influential works of classical literature for centuries to come.
- 1828 — Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian playwright often called the father of modern drama, whose works like A Doll's House challenged Victorian social norms.
- 1904 — B. F. Skinner, American psychologist whose behaviorist theories and invention of the operant conditioning chamber transformed the study of learning.
- 1915 — Sister Rosetta Tharpe, American gospel singer and electric guitar pioneer whose fiery style laid crucial groundwork for rock and roll.
- 1939 — Brian Mulroney, Canadian lawyer and statesman who served as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada, shaping major trade and environmental policies.
- 1957 — Spike Lee, American filmmaker whose bold, socially conscious films like Do the Right Thing made him a defining voice in cinema.
- 1958 — Holly Hunter, Academy Award-winning American actress acclaimed for her powerful performances in films like The Piano and Broadcast News.
- 1976 — Chester Bennington, American singer and songwriter whose raw, emotional vocals fronted the rock band Linkin Park and moved millions worldwide.
- 1979 — Freema Agyeman, English actress best known for playing Martha Jones in the beloved science-fiction series Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood.