September 20: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On September 20, 1519, Ferdinand Magellan departed Spain with roughly 270 men, launching an expedition that would ultimately achieve the first circumnavigation of the Earth.
About September 20
September 20 carries an adventurous spirit befitting the detail-oriented Virgo. In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan weighed anchor at Sanlúcar de Barrameda with about 270 crew members, embarking on a journey that would eventually circle the globe. Nearly three centuries later, in 1792, French revolutionary forces halted an allied invasion at the Battle of Valmy—a decisive clash that kept the French Revolution alive. Italy completed its long unification on this date in 1870 when the Bersaglieri corps marched through Rome's Porta Pia.
The twentieth century brought milestones of a different kind. The inaugural Cannes Film Festival finally premiered in 1946 after being delayed for seven years by World War II. In 1973, tennis legend Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the wildly hyped Battle of the Sexes at the Houston Astrodome, a watershed moment for women's athletics. On the same day in 2011, the U.S. military formally repealed its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, permitting gay and lesbian service members to serve openly. In 2019, roughly four million people—led by sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg in New York—marched worldwide to demand climate action.
Virgos born on this date include Italian cinema icon Sophia Loren (1934), fantasy author George R. R. Martin (1948), and celebrated physicist and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili (1962).
Holidays & Observances on September 20
- Constitution Day (Nepal)
- Independence Day of South Ossetia (not fully recognized)
- National Youth Day (Thailand)
- Oil Workers' Day (Azerbaijan)
- Universal Children's Day (Germany)
Fun & National Days on September 20
- National Pepperoni Pizza Day — Grab a slice of the most universally beloved pizza topping and enjoy a classic Italian-American comfort food.
- National Punch Day — Mix up a fruity, refreshing beverage—alcoholic or not—and raise a glass to this centuries-old drink.
- National Fried Rice Day — Celebrate by stir-frying leftover rice with veggies, eggs, and soy sauce for a quick, satisfying meal.
- National Gibberish Day — Embrace the nonsense and try speaking in a made-up language just for laughs with your friends.
- National String Cheese Day — Peel away at a stick of childhood's favorite dairy snack for a simple, nostalgic protein boost.
- National Back to Church Sunday
- National Brunch Day
- National Care for Kids Day
- National LGBTQ Veteran's Day
- National Neighborhood Day
On This Day in History
- 1187 — Saladin launched his siege of Jerusalem, setting the stage for a major shift in the Crusades.
- 1519 — Ferdinand Magellan sailed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with around 270 men, initiating the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
- 1792 — French revolutionary troops repelled an allied invasion at the Battle of Valmy, a major turning point for the fledgling republic.
- 1848 — The American Association for the Advancement of Science was established, becoming one of the world's premier scientific organizations.
- 1870 — Italian Bersaglieri troops entered Rome through the Porta Pia, effectively completing the unification of Italy.
- 1893 — Charles Duryea and his brother road-tested the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile.
- 1946 — The Cannes Film Festival held its inaugural event, having been delayed seven years due to World War II.
- 1967 — The Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched in Clydebank, Scotland, becoming an iconic transatlantic passenger ship.
- 1973 — Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome.
- 2011 — The United States military officially ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing gay personnel to serve openly.
- 2019 — Approximately four million people, led by Greta Thunberg in New York, demonstrated globally to demand action on climate change.
Famous Birthdays on September 20
- 1853 — Chulalongkorn, Siamese king born 1853; modernized Thailand and is still revered as one of its greatest monarchs.
- 1878 — Upton Sinclair, American novelist born 1878; his muckraking work The Jungle prompted major U.S. food safety reforms.
- 1899 — Leo Strauss, German-American political philosopher born 1899; highly influential in shaping modern conservative political thought.
- 1934 — Sophia Loren, Italian actress born 1934; an international cinema icon who won an Academy Award for Two Women.
- 1948 — George R. R. Martin, American novelist born 1948; creator of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, adapted as Game of Thrones.
- 1956 — Gary Cole, American actor born 1956; familiar to audiences for roles in Office Space and Veep.
- 1962 — Jim Al-Khalili, Iraqi-English physicist and broadcaster born 1962; renowned for making complex science accessible to the public.
- 1976 — Jon Bernthal, American actor born 1976; known for his intense portrayal of the Punisher in Marvel television series.