September 8th is International Literacy Day. Literacy is a fundamental human right for all. International Literacy Day | UNESCO Reading is powerful and terrifies authoritarian governments. That's why they keep trying to defund education and ban books. The 2025 theme is Promoting literacy in the digital era. The Moomin family supports reading! Moomin ABCs […]
Chōyō no Sekku, the Chrysanthemum Festival, is celebrated today in Japan. This ancient festival dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), and was introduced from China. Chrysanthemum Issued by Japan in 2007 As the early days of September settle in, Japan prepares for Chōyō no Sekku (the Chrysanthemum Festival), one of its five traditional seasonal celebrations. This […]
One of the world's great marathon runners and early Paralympian Abebe Bikila, won his first gold medal at the Rome Summer Olympics on September 10, 1960. The Ethiopian hero set world records in both the Rome Olympics and Tokyo Olympics. He was also Ethiopia's first Olympic gold medalist Abebe Bikila Part of a 5 stamp […]
Author, journalist and passionate fisherman Juhani Aho was born September 11, 1861 in Lapinlahti, Finland. Aho, Finland's first professional writer, enjoyed a career that spanned 40 years and many literary styles. 150th Anniversary of Juhani Aho, Author Issued by Finland in 2011 Designed by Teemu Ollikainen and Timo Berry Juhani Aho's literary career began in […]
On September 12, 1910, Gustav Mahler premiered his Symphony No. 8 in Munich, Germany. “When working, he didn’t even bow. For a couple of seconds, we saw the light reflecting in his glasses and we thought we were glimpsing the head of a religious mathematician in flight. The lights in the hall dimmed immediately. Allowing […]
German pianist and composer Clara Schumann was born September 13, 1819 in Leipzig. “The practice of art is a large part of my self, it is the air I breathe”. Clara Schumann Birth Bicentenary of Clara Schumann (1819-1896) Issued by Germany in 2019 Designed by Constanze Vogt and Matthias Beyrow Clara Schumann was a superstar […]
Rasuna Said, the "Lioness of the Indonesian Independence", was born September 14, 1910. An unflagging fighter for women's rights and Indonesian independence. Said is considered one of the country's great heroes. Rasuna Said From Indonesia's 2021 Heroes of Indonesia set Rasuna Said is one of the few Indonesian women accorded the status of National Hero. […]
September 15th is International Day of Democracy. This United Nations initiative brings attention to the war being waged on vital universal ideals such as "freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage" that are the bedrock of a free, democratic society. (International Day of Democracy | […]
On September 16, 1916 classical Indian music singer M. S. Subbulakshmi was born in Madurai, India. Considered one of India's greatest singers of Carnatic music, she began her career as a child, releasing her first record at the age of 10. The origins of South Indian music are traced to prehistoric times. Musical instruments form a favorite […]
Hildegard of Bingen, German abbess, visionary mystic, and composer died on September 17, 1179. In the Middle Ages, she was regarded as the herald of the approaching end of the world. The humanists celebrated Hildegard as the first great woman in literary history. During the Reformation, Hildegard was often invoked because she had used drastic […]
Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Azerbaijan's founder of modern Azerbaijani professional music and the national opera was born September 18, 1885. "Every nation wants its composers to write in a language that is close to them, in their native musical language, although this is very difficult." Uzeyir Hajibeyov 110th Birth Anniversary of Uzeyir Hacibeyov (1885-1948) Issued by Azerbaijan […]
Washington's Farewell Address was published September 19, 1796 in the American Daily Advertiser Quite frankly, I'm surprised the Trump administration hasn't erased all traces of this from government sites. Give him time and I'm sure it'll vanish as well. In 1796, as his second term in office drew to a close, President George Washington chose not to […]