Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/December 23

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This is the talk page for making suggestions or discussing improvements to Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/December 23.

To report an error when this list is currently on the Main Page, see Main Page errors. Please remember that this list defers to the supporting articles, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
Before making a suggestion, please read the selected anniversaries guidelines. Please remember that this list usually defers to supporting pages when there is disagreement, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
To discuss improvements to the corresponding December 23 article, see Talk:December 23 instead.

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 Wikipedia: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 Wikipedia. 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 Wikipedia: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 Wikipedia. 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 Wikipedia: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 December 23, 2024

Skull remains of the Bonn-Oberkassel dog

The Bonn–Oberkassel dog was a Late Paleolithic (c. 12,000 BCE) dog whose partial skeletal remains were found buried alongside two humans in Bonn, Germany. Initially identified as a wolf upon its discovery in 1914, its remains were later separated and lost within the University of Bonn's collections. These were reunited in the late 1970s, and the animal was re-identified as an early domestic dog and dated to the Late Glacial Interstadial. It likely suffered and survived canine distemper as a puppy, a disease with an almost 100% fatality rate in wild dogs and wolves. The puppy's survival likely required intensive care from humans, including food, water, and regular cleaning. This may show a close emotional bond between the humans and the dog, and possibly that it was regarded as a pet – perhaps by the humans it was buried alongside. The dog died aged around 7.5 months for unclear reasons; it may have died from natural causes, or have been sacrificed to be buried alongside the humans. (Full article...)

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Picture of the day for December 23, 2024

George Norman Barnard (December 23, 1819 – February 4, 1902) was an American photographer who was one of the first to use daguerreotype, the first commercially available form of photography, in the United States. A fire in 1853 destroyed the grain elevators in Oswego, New York, an event Barnard photographed. Historians consider these some of the first "news" photographs. Barnard also photographed Abraham Lincoln's 1861 inauguration. Barnard is best known for American Civil War era photos. He was the official army photographer for the Military Division of the Mississippi commanded by Union general William T. Sherman; his 1866 book, Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign, showed the devastation of the war. This photograph, by Mathew Brady, shows Barnard c. 1865.

Photograph credit: Mathew Brady; restored by Adam Cuerden

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← Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/December 22 * Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/December 24 →

Festivus

Moved from WP:ERRORS [1] Zzyzx11 (talk) 06:14, 12 December 2009 (UTC) [reply]

Really? . . . Seriously? . . . Truly? --Nricardo (talk) 02:54, 23 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

You have got to be kidding. 17:15, 23 December 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.163.90.174 (talk)

So... what do you want us to do? Remove it, or perhaps you are enjoying the kidding? --BorgQueen (talk) 17:45, 23 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Well, we certainly don't think fictional holidays have a place the Main Page. Maybe we can save this stuff for April 1. --Nricardo (talk) 22:12, 23 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with you. I don't think fictional holidays should be on the main page either. Mfield (talk) 22:25, 23 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps there should be a "April Fools day cancelled" note on April 1. Other than this, made-up stuff shouldn't end on the front page. Otherwise we have a case for putting for example fictional historical events in the same box. --Vuo (talk) 23:19, 23 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

2011 notes

New observances: Festivus (actually this was here as late as 2007, but was removed)—temporarily was included but moved to Ineligible for maintenance reasons
Moved to Ineligible: Tokyo Tower
Swapped out: A Visit from St. Nicholas, Vincent van Gogh, kidney transplantation, Ian Craig, History of Slovenia
Swapped in: War in the Vendée (first appearance), Battle of Magdhaba (first appearance), coelacanth (first appearance), Rutan Voyager (4th appearance, last in 2009), 2008 Guinean coup d'état (first appearance)
Left in: Byzantine–Arab Wars (780–1180) (3rd consecutive appearance, 3 total)
Total: 6 items appearing due to a long TFA blurb

--howcheng {chat} 18:42, 23 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

2012 notes

Omitted: Byzantine–Arab Wars (780–1180); War in the Vendée; Battle of Magdhaba; Coelacanth; Rutan Voyager; 2008 Guinean coup d'état
Included: Vincent van Gogh (7th appearance, last in 2010); Ian Craig (2nd appearance, last in 2010); Tokyo Tower (first appearance; rescued from Ineligible); Immaculate Reception (3rd appearance, last in 2005; 40th anniversary); History of Slovenia (5th appearance, last in 2010)
And Festivus is back: Let the airing of grievances begin!

—howcheng {chat} 00:46, 22 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

2013 notes

Omitted: Ian Craig; Tokyo Tower; Immaculate Reception; History of Slovenia
Included: War in the Vendée (2nd appearance, last in 2011); Federal Reserve Act (first appearance; 100th anniversary); Coelacanth (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 75th anniversary); Kidney transplantation (2nd appearance, last in 2010)
Repeats: Vincent van Gogh (2nd consecutive appearance, 8 total; 125th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 07:04, 22 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

2014 notes

Omitted: War in the Vendée; Vincent van Gogh; Federal Reserve Act; Coelacanth; Kidney transplantation
Included: A Visit from St. Nicholas (8th appearance, last in 2010); Constantinople Conference (first appearance); Battle of Magdhaba (2nd appearance, last in 2011); Tokyo Tower (2nd appearance, last in 2012); 2010–11 Queensland floods (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 07:45, 21 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

2015 notes

Omitted: Constantinople Conference; Battle of Magdhaba; Tokyo Tower; 2010–11 Queensland floods
Included: Night of the Radishes (first appearance); Byzantine–Arab wars (780–1180) (4th appearance, last in 2011); Vincent van Gogh (9th appearance, last in 2013); Ian Craig (3rd appearance, last in 2012); History of Slovenia (6th appearance, last in 2012)
Repeats: A Visit from St. Nicholas (2nd consecutive appearance, 9 total)

—howcheng {chat} 08:15, 21 December 2015 (UTC)[reply]

2016 notes

Moved to Ineligible: Federal Reserve Act (maintenance); Immaculate Reception (maintenance)
Omitted: Byzantine–Arab wars (780–1180); A Visit from St. Nicholas; Vincent van Gogh; Ian Craig; History of Slovenia
Included: Yohl Ik'nal (first appearance); War in the Vendée (2nd appearance, last in 2013); Battle of Magdhaba (3rd appearance, last in 2014; 100th anniversary); Coelacanth (3rd appearance, last in 2013); Rutan Voyager (4th appearance, last in 2011; 30th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 08:40, 22 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

2017 notes

Deleted: Constantinople Conference (moved to January 20)
Moved to Ineligible: A Visit from St. Nicholas (maintenance); Kidney transplantation (maintenance)
Omitted: Yohl Ik'nal; Battle of Magdhaba; Coelacanth; Rutan Voyager (ineligible—maintenance)
Included: Vincent van Gogh (10th appearance, last in 2015); Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 (first appearance); Ian Craig (4th appearance, last in 2015; 60th anniversary); 2010–11 Queensland floods (2nd appearance, last in 2014); Pamheiba (first appearance); Jean-François Champollion (2nd appearance, last in 2015; normally appears on September 27); P. V. Narasimha Rao (first appearance)
Repeats: War in the Vendée (2nd consecutive appearance, 4 total)

—howcheng {chat} 19:38, 23 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

2018 notes

New articles (unused): George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief; Anna J. Harrison
Omitted: Vincent van Gogh; Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919; Ian Craig; 2010–11 Queensland floods; Pamheiba; Jean-François Champollion; P. V. Narasimha Rao
Included: Constantinople Conference (3rd appearance, last in 2017; was moved to January 20, but I failed to see the note above); Coelacanth (4th appearance, last in 2016; 80th anniversary); Tokyo Tower (3rd appearance, last in 2014; 60th anniversary); 2008 Guinean coup d'état (2nd appearance, last in 2014; 10th anniversary); Carl Gustaf Wrangel (first appearance); Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol (first appearance); Quentin Bryce (first appearance)
Repeats: War in the Vendée (3rd consecutive appearance, 5 total; 225th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 04:13, 24 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

2019 notes

New articles (ineligible): Arthur Gilligan (TFA for 2019)
New articles (unused): Joseph Smith
Omitted: The Emperor's Birthday (deleted—moved to February 23); War in the Vendée; Constantinople Conference (ineligible—appears elsewhere); Coelacanth; Tokyo Tower (ineligible—maintenance); 2008 Guinean coup d'état; Carl Gustaf Wrangel; Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol; Quentin Bryce
Included: Yohl Ikʼnal (2nd appearance, last in 2016); George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief (first appearance); Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 (2nd appearance, last in 2017; 100th anniversary); Aeroflot Flight 3519 (first appearance); Francis Tresham (first appearance); Madam C. J. Walker (first appearance); Carla Bruni (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 17:00, 24 December 2019 (UTC)[reply]

2020 notes

Deleted: 2010–11 Queensland floods (significance of date unclear)
Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Arthur Gilligan
New articles (unused): Gharib Nawaz (Manipur)
Omitted: Yohl Ikʼnal; George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief; Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919; Aeroflot Flight 3519; Francis Tresham; Madam C. J. Walker; Carla Bruni
Included: Emma (novel) (first appearance); Vincent van Gogh (13th appearance, last in 2020; also appeared on July 29, his death anniversary); Battle of Magdhaba (4th appearance, last in 2016); Ian Craig (5th appearance, last in 2017); 1990 Slovenian independence referendum (first appearance; 30th anniversary); Joseph Smith (9th appearance, last in 2015; previously appeared on January 15); Constance Naden (2nd appearance, last in 2019; also appeared on January 24, her birthday); Joan Lindsay (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 04:34, 25 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]

2021 notes

Moved to Ineligible: George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief (POTD for 2021)
Omitted: Emma (novel); Vincent van Gogh; Battle of Magdhaba; Ian Craig; 1990 Slovenian independence referendum; Joseph Smith; Arthur Gilligan; Joan Lindsay
Included: Yohl Ikʼnal (3rd appearance, last in 2019); War in the Vendée (6th appearance, last in 2018); Coelacanth (5th appearance, last in 2018); Aeroflot Flight 3519 (2nd appearance, last in 2019); 2008 Guinean coup d'état (3rd appearance, last in 2018); Dost Mohammad Khan (first appearance); Edward Blyth (first appearance); Chryssa (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 09:01, 24 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

2022 notes

Rescued from Ineligible: George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief; Tokyo Tower
Omitted: Yohl Ikʼnal; War in the Vendée; coelacanth; Aeroflot Flight 3519; 2008 Guinean coup d'état
Included: George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief (pictured, 2nd appearance, last in 2019); Emma (novel) (2nd appearance, last in 2020); Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 (3rd appearance, last in 2019; Tokyo Tower (4th appearance, last in 2018);

– Zeete (talk) 22:04, 23 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]