selected Anniversaries/February 17

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.

Should we be using historical holidays? I'm not that familiar with Tanis Diena, but I get the impression that it, like the other ancient Latvian holidays, hasn't been celebrated for centuries. I'm not rejecting historical holidays out of hand, just looking for a general policy. Thanks.--Pharos 22:54, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

Though I know the Kosovo Declaration of Independence is controversial, it is irrefutable that A Kosovo declaration of Independence took place on February 17, 2008. In keeping with the tradition of listing patriotic holidays for recognized or partially recognized (Taiwan's official day is listed) countries, could an admin please add the Kosovo anniversary to this page? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Astrofreak92 (talk • contribs) 01:25, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

The start of the Sino-Vietnamese War happened on February 17, 1979, 30 years ago. I think it's a more significant anniversary than many of those listed here. DHN (talk) 18:54, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

• Omitted: Myles Standish, Gomburza, Madama Butterfly, 1964 Gabon coup d'état
• Included: Giordano Bruno (3rd appearance, last in 2010), Citadel of Saigon (2nd appearance, last in 2010), Capture of Columbia (first appearance), 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide (2nd appearance, last in 2010)
• Repeats: Armory Show (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 20:18, 16 February 2012 (UTC)

The capture of Columbia, South Carolina, is listed as 1862. It actually happened in 1865. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.89.32.154 (talk) 00:13, 17 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks. —howcheng {chat} 00:41, 17 February 2012 (UTC)

• Deleted: Missouri Compromise (better used on March 5)
• Omitted: Giordano Bruno (ineligible—maintenance); Citadel of Saigon; Capture of Columbia; 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide
• Included: United States presidential election, 1800 (7th appearance, last in 2010); Gomburza (2nd appearance, last in 2011); La Mon restaurant bombing (first appearance); London congestion charge (4th appearance, last in 2010; 10th anniversary)
• Repeats: Armory Show (3rd consecutive appearance, 3 total; 100th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 10:13, 16 February 2013 (UTC)

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

I strongly feel that "Independence day in Kosovo" should not be listed in this page, not only because this territory is not considered an independent country by more than a half of UN members, but (more importantly) because it is not itself a member of the UN. Somebody mentioned the case of Taiwan (also partly-recognized), however, there is a significant difference - Taiwan IS a member of UN, therefore "a country" in a formal way (even if many do not agree with that).

Moreover, Kosovo's independence being a very controversial topic, mentioning it on Wikipedia (considering current state of affairs) could be considered as a kind of (pro Kosovo Albanian) political presure.

178.148.204.251 (talk) 22:26, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

I understand your position, but the point of this listing to say that Independence Day is being celebrated in the region of Kosovo. What other nations think of that is irrelevant. —howcheng {chat} 01:20, 18 February 2013 (UTC)

• Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Newsweek
• Omitted: United States presidential election, 1800; Gomburza; Armory Show; La Mon restaurant bombing; London congestion charge
• Included: Richard II of England (first appearance); Myles Standish (2nd appearance, last in 2011); Madama Butterfly (4th appearance, last in 2011); Chaim Weizmann (first appearance); 1964 Gabon coup d'état (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 50th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 07:11, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

• Moved to Ineligible: Capture of Columbia (maintenance); Newsweek (maintenance)
• Omitted: Myles Standish; Madama Butterfly (ineligible—maintenance); 1964 Gabon coup d'état
• Included: Giordano Bruno (4th appearance, last in 2012; rescued from Ineligible); Armory Show (4th appearance, last in 2013); Bahrain Bloody Thursday (first appearance)
• Repeats: Richard II of England (2nd appearance, 2 total); Chaim Weizmann (2nd appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 08:01, 15 February 2015 (UTC)

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

1600 – Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno, best-known as a proponent of heliocentrism and the infinity of the universe, was burned at the stake as a heretic by the Roman Inquisition.

The sentence more than suggests that Bruno was killed for being a proponent of heliocentrism, although a literal reading does not. Most controversies surrounding heliocentrism and the Church have been inflated by its various opponents in the last centuries, who wished to portray themselves as more sympathetic to science.

But Giordano Bruno wasn't just saying Eppur si muove, he was collecting each and every heresy the Church had battled against for more than a millenia. There is hardly a Church without the dogmas of trinity and monotheism, and a large number of trials were held in Catholic countries during these ardent times in Europe for less than that.

A different wording should dispel the interpretation that 'heliocentrism' might have been 'heretical', which it has never been (see heliocentrism for more explanations).

Kahlores (talk) 03:51, 17 February 2015 (UTC)

  Done. Thanks. —howcheng {chat} 16:43, 17 February 2015 (UTC)
You corrected it but you seem to have reverted it by bad luck (see diff). Anyway I still thank you, for the error won't be there the next year. Kahlores (talk) 21:44, 17 February 2015 (UTC)

• Moved to Ineligible: Myles Standish (TFA for 2016)
• Omitted: Richard II of England; Giordano Bruno; Armory Show; Chaim Weizmann; Bahrain Bloody Thursday
• Included: United States presidential election, 1800 (8th appearance, last in 2013); Citadel of Saigon (3rd appearance, last in 2012); Madama Butterfly (5th appearance, last in 2014; rescued from Ineligible); Vanguard 2 (4th appearance, last in 2007; rescued from Ineligible); 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide (3rd appearance, last in 2012; 10th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 08:35, 15 February 2016 (UTC)

• New articles (ineligible): OFC Nations Cup (maintenance)
• Moved to Ineligible: Gomburza (maintenance); London congestion charge (maintenance)
• Omitted: United States presidential election, 1800 (ineligible—maintenance); Madama Butterfly; Vanguard 2
• Included: Myles Standish (3rd appearance, last in 2014; rescued from Ineligible); Armory Show (5th appearance, last in 2015); 1964 Gabon coup d'état (3rd appearance, last in 2014); Wally Pipp (first appearance); Geronimo (8th appearance; usually appears on September 4)
• Repeats: Citadel of Saigon (2nd consecutive appearance, 4 total); 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide (2nd consecutive appearance, 4 total)

—howcheng {chat} 08:00, 17 February 2017 (UTC)

• Deleted: Orange Free State (moved to February 23)
• Moved to Ineligible: Richard II of England (maintenance); Giordano Bruno (maintenance); Chaim Weizmann (maintenance); Vanguard 2 (maintenance)
• New articles (ineligible): Billy Joe Armstrong (maintenance)
• New articles (unused): 1974 White House helicopter incident; Isabelle Eberhardt
• Omitted: Citadel of Saigon; 1964 Gabon coup d'état; 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide; Wally Pipp; Geronimo (deleted; normally appears September 4)
• Included: Battle of Mormant (first appearance); La Mon restaurant bombing (2nd appearance, last in 2013); Bahrain Bloody Thursday/Libyan Civil War (2011) (Bahrain: 2nd appearance, last in 2015; Libya: first appearance); María de las Mercedes Barbudo (first appearance); Karen O'Connor (first appearance); Ed Sheeran (first appearance)
• Repeats: Myles Standish (2nd consecutive appearance, 4 total); Armory Show (2nd consecutive appearance, 6 total)

—howcheng {chat} 17:32, 17 February 2018 (UTC)

• Omitted: Myles Standish; Armory Show; La Mon restaurant bombing; Bahrain Bloody Thursday/Libyan Civil War (2011); María de las Mercedes Barbudo; Karen O'Connor; Ed Sheeran
• Included: Citadel of Saigon (5th appearance, last in 2017); Madama Butterfly (6th appearance, last in 2016); 1974 White House helicopter incident (first appearance); 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide (5th appearance, last in 2017); Jovian (emperor) (first appearance); Isabelle Eberhardt (2nd appearance, last in 2017; previously appeared on October 21, her death anniversary); Amber Merritt (first appearance)
• Repeats: Battle of Mormant (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 07:14, 19 February 2019 (UTC)

• Deleted: Richard II of England (moved to July 16)
• Omitted: Kosovo (ineligible—maintenance); Battle of Mormant; Citadel of Saigon; 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide; Jovian (emperor); Isabelle Eberhardt; Amber Merritt
• Included: Myles Standish (5th appearance, last in 2018); Weenen massacre (first appearance); 1964 Gabonese coup d'état (4th appearance, last in 2017); Al-Tabari (first appearance); Lola Montez (first appearance); Wally Pipp (2nd appearance, last in 2017)
• Repeats: Madama Butterfly (2nd consecutive appearance, 7 total); 1974 White House helicopter incident (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 16:49, 18 February 2020 (UTC)

• Omitted: Weenen massacre; Madama Butterfly; 1964 Gabonese coup d'état; 1974 White House helicopter incident; Al-Tabari; Lola Montez (ineligible—maintenance); Wally Pipp
• Included: Citadel of Saigon (6th appearance, last in 2019); Armory Show (7th appearance, last in 2018); La Mon restaurant bombing (3rd appearance, last in 2018); Bloody Thursday (Bahrain)/First Libyan Civil War (Thursday: 3rd appearance; War: 2nd; both last in 2018); Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria (first appearance; 650th anniversary); Mary Carson Breckinridge (first appearance); Ed Sheeran (2nd appearance, last in 2018; 30th birthday)
• Repeats: Myles Standish (2nd consecutive appearance, 6 total; 400th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 07:50, 19 February 2021 (UTC)

• New articles (ineligible): 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence (maintenance)
• Omitted: Myles Standish; Citadel of Saigon; Armory Show; La Mon restaurant bombing; Bloody Thursday (Bahrain)/First Libyan Civil War; Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria; Mary Carson Breckinridge; Ed Sheeran
• Included: Battle of Mormant (3rd appearance, last in 2019); Diesel engine (3rd appearance, last in 2006; previously appeared on February 23); Operation Hailstone (first appearance); Vanguard 2 (4th appearance, last in 2016; rescued from Ineligible); 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide (6th appearance, last in 2019); Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles (first appearance); Margot Heuman (first appearance); Nestor Chylak (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 07:46, 18 February 2022 (UTC)