23 February - Yukon Heritage Day

 

Yukon Heritage Day brings the history and culture of the smallest of Canada’s three territories to the forefront of public attention, on the Friday before the last Sunday in February. Schools and Yukon government offices close, while business owners have the option of giving employees time off. 

The day is designed to coincide with The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, a festival in Yukon’s capital, Whitehorse. The event specifically revolves around the Yukon Gold Rush period of the 1890’s, featuring a “Queen” contest, sled dog races, air shows, and snow sculpture contests.

 

23 February - Mashramani - Republic Day (Guyana)

 

Mashramani is an annual festival celebrated in Guyana, and it is the country's Republic Day. It usually takes place on February 23rd. Mashramani, often referred to as "Mash," is a vibrant and colorful celebration that marks the anniversary of Guyana becoming a republic in 1970.

The word "Mashramani" is an Amerindian term that translates to "celebration after hard work." The festival includes lively parades, elaborate costumes, music, dance, and various cultural events. Guyanese people come together to showcase their national pride, creativity, and artistic talents during Mashramani.

The festivities typically feature a grand float parade, where organizations, groups, and individuals display their creativity through colorful costumes and thematic floats. Traditional Guyanese music, including calypso and steelpan performances, adds to the festive atmosphere.

Mashramani is not only a time of celebration but also an opportunity for Guyanese people to reflect on their cultural heritage and the journey towards becoming a republic. While the main celebration is in the capital city, Georgetown, various regions across the country also participate in local Mashramani events.

23 February - World Understanding and Peace Day

 

World Understanding and Peace Day takes place on February 23 every year. This day is actually a commemoration of the first meeting of Rotary that was held. This meeting of businessmen, which aimed to be a space where their backgrounds didn’t matter, started the chain of events that led to the formation of Rotary International. An international organization dedicated to humanitarian service as well as peace and goodwill throughout the world, Rotary International began in Chicago, U.S. The date of the first meeting has since become World Understanding and Peace Day, which is part of the World Understanding Month celebrations in February.

23 February - Red Army Day

 

Red Army Day historically referred to the day that commemorated the founding of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army in Soviet Russia. The Red Army was established on January 28, 1918, and Red Army Day was initially celebrated on this date. However, over time, the date of the celebration was changed.

In 1949, after the end of World War II, the Soviet government officially moved the celebration of Red Army Day to February 23rd. This date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first mass draft into the Red Army during the Russian Civil War.

While the Soviet Union no longer exists, and many former Soviet republics have transitioned to different forms of government, some countries may still observe military-related events on or around February 23rd as part of their historical legacy. It's worth noting that specific observances and their names may have changed in different countries since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

23 February - Armed Forces Day Tajikistan

 

Tajikistan observes Armed Forces Day on February 23rd. Armed Forces Day in Tajikistan is a public holiday dedicated to honoring and celebrating the country's military forces. The day typically involves various events and activities to showcase the capabilities and contributions of the Tajik Armed Forces.

23 February - The siege of Chittorgarh

 

The siege of Chittorgarh (23 October 1567 – 23 February 1568) was the military expedition of the Mughal Empire under Akbar against the Mewar kingdom that commenced in 1567 during which the Mughals successfully captured the fort of Chittorgarh after a hard-pressed siege which lasted for several months.

Akbar under his expansionist policy, besieged the strategic Sisodia capital of Chittor in October 1567 and further gave a religious colour to the struggle by declaring it as a Jihād against the infidels. On Akbar's advance, Sisodia ruler Rana Udai Singh moved to the mountainous principality of his kingdom (on the advice of his war councils) and placed the fort under the command of Jaimal Rathore.

After over four months of seesaw action during which the Mughal forces suffered heavy casualties, the battle eventually broke the deadlock when Jaimal succumbed to a musket shot of Akbar on 22 February 1568. The fort was captured the next morning on the day of Holi after a gallant resistance by the Rajputs. The conquest of Chittor was proclaimed by Akbar as the victory of Islam over infidels.

After the subjugation of the fort, Akbar ordered a general massacre of Chittor's population in the course of which 30,000 Hindu civilians were slaughtered and a large number of women and children were enslaved. Akbar placed the fort under his general Asaf Khan and returned to Agra. 

23 February - James Watt's patent for a rotary motion

 

On 23 February 1782 ,Engineer James Watt's patent for a rotary motion for the steam engine (his sun and planet gear) was granted

23 February - The official independence of the Orange Free State, (South Africa) is declared.

 

The Orange Free State (Oranje Vrijstaat in Dutch) gained official independence on February 23, 1854. The region, situated in the central part of South Africa, was initially a British colony known as the Orange River Sovereignty. However, due to various factors, including disputes with local communities and the desire for self-governance, the British decided to withdraw their administration.

On February 23, 1854, the Bloemfontein Convention was signed, leading to the establishment of the Orange Free State as an independent Boer republic. The name "Orange Free State" reflected both the Orange River and the Boer desire for independence. The Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers, sought to govern themselves and establish their own republics.

The Orange Free State continued to exist as a sovereign state until the Second Boer War (1899–1902), during which it was annexed by the British Empire in 1900. After the war, the region became the Orange River Colony under British control until the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Today, the area corresponds largely to the Free State province of modern South Africa.

23 February - Birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan)

Emperor Naruhito is the reigning emperor of Japan. He ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019, following the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito. Emperor Naruhito was born on February 23, 1960.

Emperor Naruhito is the 126th emperor of Japan in the traditional order of succession. His reign name, known as the "gengo" era, is "Reiwa," which began on May 1, 2019. The imperial role in Japan is largely ceremonial, and the emperor's duties include various official functions, ceremonies, and symbolic roles.

23 February - Brunei National Day

 

Brunei National Day is celebrated on February 23rd every year. This day commemorates the full independence of Brunei from British colonial rule, which was achieved on January 1, 1984. Brunei National Day is a significant occasion for the people of Brunei, and it is marked with various events and activities.

The celebrations typically include a grand parade, cultural performances, traditional music and dance, fireworks, and other festivities. The festivities aim to showcase Brunei's rich cultural heritage and national pride. It is a time for citizens to come together and celebrate their identity as a sovereign nation.

 

23 February - P C Sorcar an Indian magician

 

 

Protul Chandra Sorcar ( 23 February 1913 – 06 January 1971) was an Indian magician.He was an internationally active magician throughout the 1950s and 1960s, performing his Indrajal show before live audiences and on television. Sorcar died of a heart attack at the age of 57 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan, on 06 January 1971, where he was performing.

At the age of 21, Sorcar decided to give up formal education (he was likely to study to become an engineer), and decided to become a conjuror despite the profession's low esteem in India.

Sorcar became famous in the mid-1930s, when he performed shows in Kolkata and also in Japan and several other countries. Among other routines, he performed a Floating Lady routine featuring aerial suspension in 1964.Ganapati Chakraborty was his mentor.

In 1956, he performed the sawing a woman in half illusion on the BBC's Panorama program.

His self-appointed title was "The World's Greatest Magician". Sorcar died in Japan in 1971.

23 February - USA celebrates Play Tennis Day

 

Play Tennis Day is officially observed on February 23rd of every year. Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent or between two teams of two players each. Millions of players play tennis, and the game has spectaculars all around the world. Tennis is an Olympic sport, and it can be played at all levels of society and all ages. There is no age bar for this game; it can be performed by anyone who can hold a racket, including wheelchair users. Tennis is a great sport for both body and mind. Tennis has the most variety of all sports, one needs speed, strength, agility, touch, tactics, a high mental game, fast reaction, patience, and power.

23 February - USA celebrates Diesel Engine Day

 

Diesel Engine Day is celebrated annually on February 23. Did you know that diesel engines today, power all sorts of things including heavy construction machinery, farm tractors, trucks, marine vessels, buses, and locomotives? They are even turned into power generators at offices, airports, and hospitals. It is simply impossible to imagine our current world without this unique power system, hence the reason why it is more than deserving of its own day.

The invention of this engine is credited to Rudolf Diesel, an engineer, who was granted a patent for the diesel engine on February 23, 1893. He came up with the engine after setting out to improve the efficiency of the Otto engine, a large, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine developed back in the 1870s.

23 February - USA celebrates Pinocchio Day

 

Pinocchio Day is celebrated on February 23 every year. The day marks the anniversary of the release of the Disney film of the same name in 1940. Disney’s “Pinocchio” went on to become a global sensation due to its familiarity as a folk tale in Europe. It was based on the 1883 Italian book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi. Pinocchio followed up as the studio’s second animated feature-length film after “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The film follows a puppet named Pinocchio in his attempt to become a human boy.