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.
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?
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.
Pedro II, nicknamed the Magnanimous, was the second and last monarch of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Pedro II inherited an empire on the verge of disintegration, but he turned Brazil into an emerging power in the international arena. The nation grew to be distinguished from its Hispanic neighbors on account of its political stability, freedom of speech, respect for civil rights, vibrant economic growth, and form of government—a functional representative parliamentary monarchy. Pedro II pushed through the abolition of slavery despite opposition from powerful political and economic interests. The Emperor established a reputation as a vigorous sponsor of learning, culture, and the sciences, and he won the respect and admiration of people such as Charles Darwin, Victor Hugo, and Friedrich Nietzsche, and was a friend to Richard Wagner, Louis Pasteur, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, among others. Historians have regarded the Emperor positively and several have ranked him as the greatest Brazilian. Pedro II was born 200 years ago today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This 1872 painting depicts the Emperor delivering the speech from the throne and wearing the Imperial Regalia.
I was asked to respond, but I'm not really an expert on this. I do think 1915 is the right date, however. It's surprising you can't find it. Johnleemk | Talk10:35, 22 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Since the date cannot be confirmed and cannot be found on either articles, I've removed the anniversary from the template. -- PFHLai23:58, 25 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I've noticed, that the home page of the English Wikipedia completely ignores the fact, that today (December 2, 2005) is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz, an event of great importance in the history of Europe, for whose celebrance a set of several huge ceremonies with international participance including top politic representants taking part is taking place in the venue of the 1805 battle. Yes, I see that there is accidentally already one event on Napoleon in the Selected anniversaries, but I myself prefer this one to be of a greater importance - same like for example the French Wikipedia does, as I have noticed - they have had the article on the Main Page for the whole present week, since it is their Cooperation of the Week. I think the Wikipedia should report on this anniversary, at least this year when there is the jubilee and extraordinary celebrations taking place. Blahma22:37, 2 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]
This ""Battle of Three Emperors" should be mentioned every year (not only because of 200 anniversary). Could some admin add it there for next year? Szalas
I was thinking more along the lines of alternating this battle with Napoleon's coronation.... Anyway, the template should be updated a few days before its appearence on the MainPage. We'll re-visit this at the end of November 2006. -- PFHLai20:57, 4 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]
Unfortunately, Battle of Austerlitz was selected as the TFA for this day in 2006. Therefore, I not only had to hide that here, but also hide Napoleon's coronation so there are less French topics on the main page (I have no idea what is going to by posted on ITN and DYK). The rotation will have to start next year. Zzyzx11(Talk)07:36, 1 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]
On this date in 1717, Johann Sebastian Bach got out of jail. Bach had been imprisoned by Duke Wilhelm Ernst, duke of Saxe-Weimar, since Nov. 6, 1717, for accepting a new post at Prince Leopold’s court at Köthen without first asking the duke’s permission. It is well for posterity that Bach was released, because at Köthen he went on to complete the six Brandenburg Concertos, dedicated to his patron, Christian Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. However, the margrave (German: Markgraf = count of the mark) never had the concertos performed. It was not until the score was rediscovered in the archives of Brandenburg in 1849 that the Brandenburg Concertos were published and became widely known as, arguably, the finest compositions of the Baroque Era.
Included: Monroe Doctrine (6th appearance, last in 2010); Napoleon III (first appearance); Air raid on Bari (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 70th anniversary); Laos (6th appearance as blurb, last in 2009; rescued from Ineligible); Benazir Bhutto (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 25th anniversary)
