selected Anniversaries/February 1

Frequently asked questions 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 Wiki: 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? A2: The short, basic reason is the systemic bias of Wiki. There are not enough good, well-written articles on 19th-century and earlier events for all 365 days in the year. Currently, a majority of users seem to be generally more interested in writing articles about recent events. If you would like to further help mitigate the systemic bias in Wikipedia, see Wiki: WikiProject Countering systemic bias. 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 Wiki. 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 Wiki: 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 February 1, 2025
Wiki: Today's featured article/February 1, 2025 create – talk – watch
Picture of the day for February 1, 2025
African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or Black Americans, are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African Americans constitute the third largest racial or ethnic group in the U.S. after White Americans and Hispanic and Latino Americans. Most African Americans are descendants of enslaved people, having West African and coastal Central African ancestry, with varying amounts of Western European and Native American ancestry. This ambrotype depicts African American Union soldier Sgt. Samuel Smith, of the 119th United States Colored Troops, with his family in c. 1863–65. Ambrotype credit: unattributed photographer Recently featured: Archive More featured pictures view talk edit history watch file page create protected version (To create the protected version, replace the first line with {{subst:POTD row and save the page.)

Dear all,

I propose to add the following item to the anniversaries of Feb 1, especially because that anniversary will be 50 years as of Feb 1 2007.

• 1957 - Felix Wankel's first working prototype DKM 54 of the Wankel engine was running at the NSU research and development department Versuchsabteilung TX in Germany

Cheers, MikeZ 13:16, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

• Omitted: Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War, Mayon Volcano, Greensboro sit-ins, Kuala Lumpur, Timor Leste Defence Force
• Included: Edward III of England (6th appearance, last in 2009; rescued from Ineligible), Woodes Rogers (first appearance), Voice of America (first appearance), Canadian Forces (first appearance), Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 05:37, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm not familiar with "Selected anniversaries" work, but tried to follow the pattern to add the 10 year anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster for this upcoming year. I moved out Canadian Forces to "eligible" since it was an event in the same general era and the same general (North American English speaking) culture. Please review my edit for correctness of formatting, etc. Thanks! (sdsds - talk) 09:37, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Sorry, but Space Shuttle Columbia disaster has two orange-level maintenance tags on it, making it ineligible to appear. —howcheng {chat} 20:25, 31 January 2013 (UTC)
Your policy in this is interfering with improving the encyclopedia. :-( (sdsds - talk) 11:10, 1 February 2013 (UTC)
(For reference, the "ineligible" article was http:https://www.duhoctrungquoc.vn/wiki/index.php?lang=en&q=Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster&oldid=535976153 (sdsds - talk) 11:27, 1 February 2013 (UTC)
Happily, someone else fixed the article. But I don't see how this interferes with improving the encyclopedia. If anything, this should serve as incentive to improve the encyclopedia, which in fact it did, because someone went ahead and made the effort to improve the article enough to put it back on the Main Page. —howcheng {chat} 23:14, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

• Moved to Ineligible: Senegambia Confederation (maintenance); Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy
• Omitted: Edward III of England; Alexander Selkirk/Woodes Rogers (ineligible—date needs to be verified); Voice of America; Canadian Forces; Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
• Included: Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War (both: 2nd appearance, last in 2011); La bohème (2nd appearance, last in 2010); Trygve Lie (7th appearance, last in 2010; rescued from Ineligible); Eddie Adams (photographer) (first appearance); USAir Flight 1493 (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 20:31, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

Addendum: Space Shuttle Columbia disaster reference issue fixed and added for Main Page balance (5th appearance, last in 2010). —howcheng {chat} 23:15, 1 February 2013 (UTC)
Not that it matters very much, but I added it because it was the 10th anniversary and thus in the news more than a typical year. Improving main page balance was just my rationale for not taking some other item off. --Floquenbeam (talk) 23:22, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

By definition, Lughnasadh in one hemisphere is Imbolc in the other. Imbolc is given the alternative title of (Saint) Brighid’s Day. All three items listed are cross referenced to each other. 1 Feb must have significance somewhere in the world beyond Gaelic calendar observances. Kevin McE (talk) 07:19, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

If we include Imbolc, then Lughnasadh must also be included so as not to emphasize one over the other. I don't mind dropping both of them, leaving only Brigit, and then putting in Black History Month (Canada/US) and LGBT History Month (UK). —howcheng {chat} 23:20, 1 February 2013 (UTC)

• Deleted: Dookie (not notable enough for inclusion)
• Moved to Ineligible: Voice of America (maintenance)
• Omitted: Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War; La bohème; Trygve Lie (ineligible—maintenance); Eddie Adams (photographer); USAir Flight 1493 (ineligible—maintenance); Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (ineligible—POTD for 2013)
• Included: Alexander Selkirk/Woodes Rogers (both: 2nd appearance; Selkirk: last in 2008; Rogers: last in 2012; rescued from Ineligible); Mayon Volcano (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 200th anniversary); Wankel engine (5th appearance, last in 2010); Roman Polanski (first appearance); Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy (first appearance; 10th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 07:45, 31 January 2014 (UTC)

Addendum: Alexander Selkirk/Woodes Rogers moved to February 2 (wrong date). —howcheng {chat} 21:22, 2 February 2014 (UTC)

• Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Senegambia Confederation
• Omitted: Peace of Thorn (1411); Mayon Volcano; Wankel engine; Roman Polanski; Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy
• Included: Siege of Medvėgalis (first appearance); Supreme Court of the United States (2nd appearance, last in 2009); Oxford English Dictionary (7th appearance, last in 2010; rescued from Ineligible); Canadian Armed Forces (2nd appearance, last in 2012); Aeroflot Flight 7841 (first appearance; 30th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 03:56, 31 January 2015 (UTC)

• Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
• Omitted: LGBT History Month (ineligible); Siege of Medvėgalis; Supreme Court of the United States; Oxford English Dictionary (ineligible—maintenance); Canadian Armed Forces; Aeroflot Flight 7841
• Included: Edward III of England (7th appearance, last in 2012); La bohème (3rd appearance, last in 2013); Greensboro sit-ins (2nd appearance, last in 2011); Ruhollah Khomeini (3rd appearance, last in 2006; previously appeared on February 11); Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (2nd appearance, last in 2012)

—howcheng {chat} 07:10, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

@Howcheng: On 1 February 1979 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, returned to Iran after 14 years in political exile. Therefore, this day is a important day in Iran and Islamic countries. Thanks Saff V. (talk) 12:06, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

@Howcheng: Does this milestone event have a chance this year? --Mhhossein ^talk 12:22, 31 January 2017 (UTC)
It was in last year, so I rotated it out for this year. —howcheng {chat} 17:53, 31 January 2017 (UTC)
@Howcheng: The article had never appeared on the main page! --Mhhossein ^talk 07:14, 1 February 2017 (UTC)
Oops! I had not payed attention that Ruhollah Khomeini is emboldened, too. But, why the talk page of Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran does not show that it had appeared on the main page? --Mhhossein ^talk 07:19, 1 February 2017 (UTC)
That one was not bold last year. —howcheng {chat} 09:05, 1 February 2017 (UTC)

• New articles (ineligible): I Want to Hold Your Hand (maintenance)
• Moved to Ineligible: Supreme Court of the United States (maintenance); Mayon (maintenance); Wankel engine (maintenance); Canadian Armed Forces (maintenance)
• Omitted: Brigid of Kildare (ineligible—maintenance); LGBT History Month (ineligible—maintenance); La bohème; Greensboro sit-ins; Ruhollah Khomeini/Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran; Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
• Included: Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War (both: 3rd appearance, last in 2013); Senegambia Confederation (2nd appearance, last in 2011); Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (6th appearance, last in 2013)
• Repeats: Edward III of England (2nd consecutive appearance, 8 total)

—howcheng {chat} 09:11, 1 February 2017 (UTC)

• Moved to Ineligible: La bohème (maintenance)
• New articles (unused): Port Said Stadium riot
• Omitted: Peace of Thorn (1411); Senegambia Confederation (ineligible—maintenance); Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (ineligible—maintenance)
• Included: LGBT History Month (rescued from Ineligible); Fajr decade (first appearance); Siege of Medvėgalis (2nd appearance, last in 2015); Eddie Adams (photographer) (2nd appearance, last in 2013); Roman Polanski sexual abuse case (first appearance; blurb previously featured Roman Polanski, which is currently ineligible); The Shard (first appearance); Thomas Campbell (minister) (first appearance); Clara Butt (first appearance); George Whipple (first appearance)
• Repeats: Edward III of England (3rd consecutive appearance, 9 total)

—howcheng {chat} 03:53, 1 February 2018 (UTC)

• Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
• Omitted: Edward III of England; Eddie Adams (photographer); Roman Polanski sexual abuse case; The Shard (ineligible—maintenance); Thomas Campbell (minister); George Whipple
• Included: Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War (both: 4th appearance, last in 2017); Greensboro sit-ins (3rd appearance, last in 2016); Kuala Lumpur (2nd appearance, last in 2011); Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (3rd appearance, last in 2016; 10th anniversary); Francesco Maria Veracini (first appearance); N. D. Cocea (first appearance)
• Repeats: Siege of Medvėgalis (2nd consecutive appearance, 3 total); Clara Butt (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 17:00, 1 February 2019 (UTC)

• Omitted: Siege of Medvėgalis; Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War; Greensboro sit-ins; Kuala Lumpur; Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir; Francesco Maria Veracini; Clara Butt; N. D. Cocea
• Included: Brigid of Kildare (rescued from Ineligible); Siege of Fort Zeelandia (first appearance; rescued from Ineligible); Oxford English Dictionary (8th appearance, last in 2015; rescued from Ineligible); Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran (first appearance); Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (7th appearance, last in 2017); Menas of Ethiopia (first appearance); Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (first appearance); Michelle Akers (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 18:14, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

• Moved to Ineligible: Eddie Adams (photographer)/Execution of Nguyễn Văn Lém (maintenance)
• New articles (ineligible): Ed Koch (maintenance)
• Omitted: Siege of Fort Zeelandia; Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran; Space Shuttle Columbia disaster; Menas of Ethiopia; Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix; Michelle Akers
• Included: Siege of Medvėgalis (4th appearance, last in 2019); Peace of Thorn (1411) (5th appearance, last in 2019); Mayon (3rd appearance, last in 2014; rescued from Ineligible); Timor Leste Defence Force (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 20th anniversary); Alexios I of Trebizond (first appearance); Ștefan Luchian (first appearance); Stanley Matthews (first appearance)
• Repeats: Oxford English Dictionary (2nd consecutive appearance, 9 total)

—howcheng {chat} 07:38, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

Hi Howcheng, I have a suggestion. The Main Page on 1 February usually says "Feast day of Saint Brigid of Kildare (Western Christianity)", linking only to the saint's article. However, we have a B-class article for the feast day, which from next year will be a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland as "St Brigid's Day/Imbolc". So I think it would be better if the wording was "Saint Brigid's Day/Imbolc". This would have the benefit of including both the Christian and Modern Pagan observances, would match the Irish government's name, and would match 17 March (which simply says "Saint Patrick's Day") and the other Gaelic festivals (Beltane 1 May, Lughnasa 1 Aug, Samhain 1 Nov). ~Asarlaí 21:06, 31 January 2022 (UTC)
@Asarlaí: Seeing as it's not a holiday yet, that change would be for next year, right? Imbolc is currently already featured on 1 August along with Lughnasa. —howcheng {chat} 21:15, 31 January 2022 (UTC)
Howcheng, I wasn't aware Imbolc already features on 1 August, thanks for pointing that out. Personally I think we could do without that, as these are primarily Northern Hemisphere seasonal festivals (specifically Irish and Scottish). My main issue was that 1 February linked only to the saint's article, rather than to the festival/feast day article, like we do for St Patrick's Day, St George's Day etc. But if you suggest waiting until St Brigid's Day/Imbolc becomes an *official* holiday before making a change, I'm happy to go with that. ~Asarlaí 22:19, 31 January 2022 (UTC)

• Omitted: Siege of Medvėgalis; Peace of Thorn (1411)/Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War; Mayon; Oxford English Dictionary; Timor Leste Defence Force; Ștefan Luchian; Stanley Matthews
• Included: Edward III of England (10th appearance, last in 2018); Siege of Fort Zeelandia (2nd appearance, last in 2020); Voice of America (2nd appearance, last in 2012; 80th anniversary; rescued from Ineligible); Kuala Lumpur (3rd appearance, last in 2019); Port Said Stadium riot (first appearance); Clara Butt (3rd appearance, last in 2019; 150th birthday); Hassan Al-Turabi (first appearance; 90th birthday)
• Repeats: Alexios I of Trebizond (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total; 800th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 05:02, 2 February 2022 (UTC)