March 21 Holidays (2023/2024), Historical Events, Famous Birthdays

Holiday name	Holiday location	Holiday type
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination	-	International (Activity & Action, Awareness & Cause, United Nations)
World Poetry Day	-	International (Culture & History, Education & Reading, United Nations)
World Down Syndrome Day	-	International (Awareness & Cause, United Nations)
International Day of Forests	-	International (Nature & Environment, United Nations)
Harmony Day	Australia	Observance
Independence Day	Namibia	Public Holiday
Human Rights Day	South Africa	Public Holiday
National Common Courtesy Day	-	Unofficial (Activity & Action)
National Countdown Day	-	Unofficial (Weird & Obscure)
National Single Parents Day	-	Unofficial (Relationships & Family)
National Fragrance Day	-	Unofficial (Lifestyle)
National California Strawberry Day	-	Unofficial (Food & Drinks)
National French Bread Day	-	Unofficial (Food & Drinks)
National Farm Rescuer Day	-	Unofficial (Work & Occupation)
Nowruz	Multiple [Show]	Multiple Types
National Close the Gap Day	Australia	Observance
International Day of Nowruz	-	International (Culture & History)
Ta'anit Esther (Fast of Esther)	Israel	Observance, Hebrew
Nauryz	Kazakhstan	Public Holiday
National Holiday "Nooruz"	-	Public Holiday
Mother's Day	Lebanon	Observance
Mothers' Day	Syria	Observance
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day	-	Unofficial (Relationships & Family)

Historical Events on March 21

1814: At the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube during the Napoleonic Wars, French forces are repelled by Austrian forces.
1844: Today is the first day of the first year of the Bahá’í Calendar.
1861: The Cornerstone Speech is given by Alexander Stephens.
1913: Over twenty thousand homes and 360 people are killed during the Great Dayton Flood in Dayton, Ohio.
1918: The German Spring Offensive starts with Operation Michael during World War I.
1925: Teaching human evolution is banned in Tennessee with the passage of the Butler Act.
1943: Wehrmacht officer Rudolf von Gersdorff attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler by using a suicide bomb but the plan fails. Fortunately, he was able to diffuse the bomb in time to avoid suspicion.
1945: Mandalay, Burma is liberated by British forces during World War II.
1945: Operation Carthage begins during World War II. During this operation, RAF planes bomb the Gestapo Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Unfortunately, they also accidentally hit a school and kill over a 120 people.
1960: 180 people are wounded and 69 are killed when the police in South Africa fire on demonstrators. This event would become known as the Sharpeville Massacre.
1963: The Federal Penitentiary Alcatraz in California is shut down.

American candy maker and creator of the Mars Bar and M&M’s, Forrest Mars, Sr. is born in 1904.
American poet and author, Phyllis McGinley is born in 1905.
American captain and politician, 38th Governor of Wisconsin Patrick Lucey, is born in 1918.
English actor Gary Oldman is born in 1958.
American actor Matthew Broderick is born in 1962.
American actress and TV show host, Rosie O’Donnell is born in 1962.
American author Mark Waid is born in 1962.