Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/August 16

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This is the talk page for making suggestions or discussing improvements to Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/August 16.

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 August 16 article, see Talk:August 16 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 August 16, 2025
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Picture of the day for August 16, 2025
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← Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/August 15 * Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/August 17 →

I changed the article text about the Second Bank of the United States to say re-establishment. This is consistent with the article. --Timc 21:04, 16 Aug 2004 (UTC)

How could this page possibly be allowed to appear without a reference to the fact that it is the anniversary of the disappearance or death of Elvis Presley? Is Joseph Kittinger really more important than that? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.9.52.174 (talk • contribs) 13:25, 16 August 2006 (UTC).Reply

Is Presley or Kittinger important ? Everyone has their favourites.... We don't do anniversaries of simple deaths. The death must be significant, as in the end of a dynasty, an assasination, etc. to be featured. Furthermore, the Elvis Presley page now carries {cleanup} and {POV} tags, making it ineligible to get featured on MainPage. And IMO, July 5 is a better date to feature Elvis's article on MainPage. --PFHLai 17:31, 16 August 2006 (UTC)Reply

Saint Roch

Latest comment: 17 years ago5 comments3 people in discussion

This should be removed. Every day of the year is one saint day or another; it has not been our practice to mark the other saint days, and this is not an especially prominent one. The only reason this was requested is that someone was apparently impressed that Roch is the patron saint of dogs—but this does not even seem to be a major aspect (except in Bolivia, apparently) of Roch's veneration.--Pharos 20:00, 10 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

Good points. I guess you can not recognize every saint's day. As I mentioned before, what I was impressed with is that his day is in the dog days of summer. It also seems to be celebrated in Bolivia, as you mentioned, as "The Birthday of All Dogs". Steve Dufour 03:26, 13 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

Yes, I agree it's sort-of-interesting that it occurs in August, but we have no evidence at all that it's actually connected with the Dog Days. And even if it were, I don't see how that would particularly make it more notable than the other saint days.--Pharos 05:36, 14 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

I would suggest that relative notability be weighted above absolute notability. If this template would become overcrowded, then you would be more than justified to limit it down to the most notable things associated with this day. However, it currently looks like Saint Roch doesn't have much competition. Savidan 16:42, 14 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

Please see August_16#Holidays_and_observances. There are a dozen of these saint days on August 16 alone (the most interesting event on this day is probably the Palio di Siena, actually).--Pharos 19:21, 14 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

Cyprus

Latest comment: 17 years ago2 comments2 people in discussion

According to Cyprus page, Cyprus achieved independence on August 16, not October 1. Tripledot 08:04, 15 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

True, but they seem to celebrate Independence Day, the holiday itself, on 1 October.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Please provide references that show differently. Thanks. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 14:52, 15 August 2007 (UTC)Reply

Woodentop (The Bill)

Latest comment: 12 years ago4 comments3 people in discussion

Is it possible to get Woodentop (The Bill) mentioned on the main page on this date? This is the pilot episode for long running police procedural series The Bill and it was broadcast on this day 27 years ago. Is it possible for it to be mentioned? --5 albert square (talk) 23:02, 15 June 2010 (UTC)Reply

Currently that article will not qualify with {{Primarysources}}, one of the 'orange'-level article issue tags, on it. Zzyzx11 (talk) 04:03, 16 June 2010 (UTC)Reply

OK I've managed to reference the article a little more and have now removed the tag for it. Can it be included now? --5 albert square (talk) 12:56, 16 June 2010 (UTC)Reply

The Bill is already included on October 16, so Woodentop is not going to get a separate listing. —howcheng {chat} 09:07, 15 August 2012 (UTC)Reply

2012 notes

Latest comment: 12 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Ringo Starr (Abbey Road was featured on August 8)
Omitted: Siege of Detroit; Dominican Restoration War; Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila; 1929 Palestine riots; Joseph Kittinger
Included: Battle of Bennington (7th appearance, last in 2010); Klondike Gold Rush (6th appearance, last in 2010); Battle of Elands River (1900) (first appearance); Northwest Airlines Flight 255 (3rd appearance, last in 2008); Yang Yong-eun (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 09:15, 15 August 2012 (UTC)Reply

2013 notes

Latest comment: 11 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Omitted: Battle of Bennington; Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila; Klondike Gold Rush; Battle of Elands River (1900); Northwest Airlines Flight 255 (ineligible—maintenance); Yang Yong-eun
Included: Peterloo Massacre (6th appearance, last in 2010); Dominican Restoration War (2nd appearance, last in 2011; 150th anniversary); 1929 Palestine riots (3rd appearance, last in 2011); Joseph Kittinger (6th appearance, last in 2011); Elvis Presley (8th appearance, last in 2010)

—howcheng {chat} 06:56, 15 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

Edit request on 15 August 2013

Latest comment: 11 years ago2 comments2 people in discussion

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

In the first Selected anniversaries item, "1819 – Fifteen people were killed and 400–700 others were injured after cavalry charged into a crowd . . . ", "after" needs to be changed to "when", as in the article. The victims were killed and injured by the charge, whereas when you say "after", it sounds as if it was something subsequent to the charge that killed them. (Whoever did this is far from being alone. This illogical use of "after" is fast becoming a plague). Awien (talk) 11:52, 15 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

Done. —howcheng {chat} 16:25, 15 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

2014 notes

Latest comment: 10 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

New articles (unused): Battle of Radzymin (1920)
Omitted: Peterloo Massacre; Dominican Restoration War; 1929 Palestine riots; Joseph Kittinger; Elvis Presley
Included: Battle of Guinegate (1513) (first appearance); Battle of Bennington (8th appearance, last in 2012); 1906 Valparaíso earthquake (first appearance); Direct Action Day (first appearance); Ringo Starr (4th appearance, last in 2006)

—howcheng {chat} 10:03, 15 August 2014 (UTC)Reply

2015 notes

Latest comment: 9 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Omitted: Battle of the Spurs; Battle of Bennington; 1906 Valparaíso earthquake; Direct Action Day; Ringo Starr
Included: Peterloo Massacre (7th appearance, last in 2013); Dominican Restoration War (3rd appearance, last in 2013); Dole Air Race (first appearance); Joseph Kittinger (7th appearance, last in 2013); Yang Yong-eun (2nd appearance, last in 2012)

—howcheng {chat} 17:18, 14 August 2015 (UTC)Reply

2016 notes

Latest comment: 8 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Omitted: Dominican Restoration War; Dole Air Race; Joseph Kittinger (ineligible—maintenance); Yang Yong-eun (ineligible—maintenance)
Included: Battle of the Spurs (2nd appearance, last in 2014); San Sebastian Church (Manila) (3rd appearance, last in 2012); Direct Action Day (2nd appearance, last in 2014; 70th anniversary); Elvis Presley (9th appearance, last in 2013)
Repeats: Peterloo Massacre (2nd consecutive appearance, 8 total)

—howcheng {chat} 06:40, 15 August 2016 (UTC)Reply

2017 notes

Moved to Ineligible: Dole Air Race (maintenance)
Omitted: Battle of the Spurs; Peterloo Massacre; San Sebastian Church (Manila); Direct Action Day
Included: Dominican Restoration War (4th appearance, last in 2015); Klondike Gold Rush (7th appearance, last in 2012); Northwest Airlines Flight 255 (4th appearance, last in 2012; 30th anniversary); 2015 Attock bombing/Shuja Khanzada (both: first appearance); Marianos Argyros (first appearance); Ranavalona I (first appearance); Georgette Heyer (first appearance)
Repeats: Elvis Presley (2nd conseutive appearance; 10 total)

2018 notes

Latest comment: 6 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Omitted: Dominican Restoration War; Klondike Gold Rush; Elvis Presley; Northwest Airlines Flight 255; Marianos Argyros; Ranavalona I (ineligible—maintenance); Georgette Heyer
Included: Battle of the Spurs (3rd appearance, last in 2016); Siege of Detroit (2nd appearance, last in 2011); 1906 Valparaíso earthquake (2nd appearance, last in 2014); Pete Best/Ringo Starr (Best: first appearance; Starr: 5th appearance, last in 2014); John II of Trebizond (first appearance); Ramakrishna (first appearance); Angela Bassett (first appearance)
Repeats: 2015 Attock bombing/Shuja Khanzada (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 15:55, 16 August 2018 (UTC)Reply

2019 notes

Latest comment: 5 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

New articles (unused): Mal Waldron; Saif Ali Khan; Tara Teng
Omitted: Battle of the Spurs; Siege of Detroit; Pete Best/Ringo Starr; 2015 Attock bombing/Shuja Khanzada; John II of Trebizond; Ramakrishna; Angela Bassett
Included: Battle of Bennington (9th appearance, last in 2014); Peterloo Massacre (9th appearance, last in 2016; 200th anniversary); San Sebastian Church (Manila) (4th appearance, last in 2016); Usain Bolt (first appearance; 10th anniversary); Marianos Argyros (2nd appearance, last in 2017); George Meany (first appearance; 125th birthday); Georgette Heyer (2nd appearance, last in 2017)
Repeats: 1906 Valparaíso earthquake (2nd consecutive appearance, 3 total)

—howcheng {chat} 15:58, 23 August 2019 (UTC)Reply

2020 notes

Latest comment: 4 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Moved to Ineligible: Siege of Detroit (maintenance); Northwest Airlines Flight 255 (maintenance)
New articles (unused): Madonna; Abu Nidal
Omitted: Battle of Bennington; Peterloo Massacre; San Sebastian Church (Manila); 1906 Valparaíso earthquake; Usain Bolt; Marianos Argyros; George Meany; Georgette Heyer
Included: Battle of the Spurs (4th appearance, last in 2018); Klondike Gold Rush (8th appearance, last in 2017); Battle of Radzymin (1920) (first appearance; 100th anniversary); Direct Action Day (3rd appearance, last in 2016); Elvis Presley (11th appearance, last in 2017); Ranavalona I (2nd appearance, last in 2017); Robert Bunsen (first appearance); Saif Ali Khan (first appearance; 50th birthday)

—howcheng {chat} 03:37, 18 August 2020 (UTC)Reply

2021 notes

Latest comment: 3 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

New articles (ineligible): Treaty of Speyer (1570) (maintenance)
New articles (unused): Jozef Tiso's speech in Holič
Omitted: Battle of the Spurs; Battle of Radzymin (1920); Elvis Presley; Ranavalona I; Robert Bunsen; Saif Ali Khan
Included: Dominican Restoration War (5th appearance, last in 2017); 1906 Valparaíso earthquake (4th appearance, last in 2019); 2015 Attock bombing/Shuja Khanzada (both: 3rd appearance, last in 2018); Theodore II Laskaris (first appearance); Elsie Inglis (first appearance); Tara Teng (first appearance)
Repeats: Klondike Gold Rush (2nd consecutive appearance, 9 total; 125th anniversary); Direct Action Day (2nd consecutive appearance, 4 total; 75th anniversary)

—howcheng {chat} 07:50, 17 August 2021 (UTC)Reply

2022 notes

Latest comment: 2 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

Omitted: Dominican Restoration War; Klondike Gold Rush; 1906 Valparaíso earthquake; Direct Action Day; 2015 Attock bombing/Shuja Khanzada; Theodore II Laskaris; Elsie Inglis; Tara Teng
Included: Peterloo Massacre (10th appearance, last in 2019); Jozef Tiso's speech in Holič (first appearance; 80th anniversary); Stanley Internment Camp (first appearance); Pete Best/Ringo Starr (Best: 2nd appearance; Starr: 6th; both last in 2018); Typhoon Wayne (1986) (first appearance); Ranavalona I (3rd appearance, last in 2020); Georgette Heyer (3rd appearance, last in 2019); Marian Rejewski (first appearance)