September 20: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

September 20^th is officially Pepperoni Pizza Day and Punch Day.

We made it to day 263 of the year and there’s only 102 days left to go until we reach the new year.

If you were born on this day or simply want to know more about what happened on this day, then you’ll enjoy our top pick of past events that all happened on September 20.

Did you know that on this day in 2013, GTAV smashed records after topping $1 billion in sales within three days on the market? This was the fastest a game or blockbuster had ever achieved this.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about September 20^th in history!

What Events Happened On September 20 In History?

2019 The climate change rally led by activist Greta Thunberg saw millions of protesters worldwide standing up for urgent action.

2016 An African American man, Keith Lamont Scott, was shot dead by police on Old Concord Road, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Black Lives Matter protests broke out, but the shooting officer, Brentley Vinson, was not charged as prosecutors say the shooting was justified.

2013 Grand Theft Auto V smashed records after topping $1 billion in sales.

GTA-V reached this milestone just three days after the game was released.

2011 The US military policy “don’t ask, don’t tell” came to an end.

OTD in 2011: The US military policy "don't ask

This meant that the military allowed gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals to be open about their sexuality without facing discrimination. Before this, the "don't ask, don't tell" policy allowed people of any sexuality, as long as they didn't talk about it.

2000 Neversoft’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was released for the PlayStation.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 has a legendary status among skaters and gamers alike and is the second-highest-rated video game of all time on Metacritic.

1992 NASA’s 50th space shuttle mission, STS-47, landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

It was the second time the Endeavour space shuttle made it into space and back, this time carrying the first Japanese astronaut, Mamoru Mohri, into space. That wasn't the only first for the mission, though, with Mae C Jemison becoming the first African American in space and Mark C. Lee and N. Jan Davis becoming the first married couple to fly on the same shuttle. Mark and Jan kept their marriage secret until the last minute, as NASA had an unofficial policy preventing married couples from flying together. It was too late to change anything by the time NASA found out.

1990 South Ossetia declared its independence from Georgia.

1980 The first Whole Foods store opened in Austin, Texas, US.

OTD in 1980: The first Whole Foods store opened in Austin

The store was 10,500 square feet, and they had 19 staff. Sadly, on May 25, 1981, a significant flood caused the uninsured store $400,000 worth of damage, but the community helped with repairs, and lenders gave them time to rebuild.

1980 Heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne released his first solo album, “Blizzard of Ozz.”

1893 A gasoline-powered car was tested in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the first time in the US.

1854 Britain and France defeated Russia during the Battle of Alma, which was the first battle of the Crimean War.

OTD in 1854: Britain and France defeated Russia during the Battle of Alma

1664 Maryland passed its first anti-amalgamation law.

The law was passed to prevent white English women from being able to marry black men as, at the time, interracial marriages were common. Many states in the US followed suit and introduced this law in the coming years.

1519 Spanish navigator Ferdinand Magellan and crew set off aboard the Victoria on their adventure around the globe.

1187 The Siege of Jerusalem began and lasted for 12 days.

The siege began when the Balian of Ibelin surrendered the city to the first Saladin. Saladin was the Sultan of Egypt and Syria.

Famous Quotes Said On September 20

Below you’ll find the most popular quotes people have said on September 20^th throughout history.

1918

“Boredom is the legitimate kingdom of the philanthropic.”

– Virginia Woolf

September 19 Sep 19 September 21 Sep 21

Famous People Born On September 20

Are you celebrating your birthday today? If so, did you know that you share the same birthday as Jon Bernthal? See what other famous people were born on this day.

1988 Khabib Nurmagomedov

Russian Martial Artist

Age:: 33 years old
Born In:: Republic of Dagestan, Russia

1976 Jon Bernthal

American Actor

Age:: 45 years old
Born In:: Washington D.C., USA

1968 Michelle Visage

American Radio DJ

Age:: 53 years old
Born In:: New Jersey, USA

1948 George R. R. Martin

American Novelist

Age:: 73 years old
Born In:: New Jersey, USA

Special Holidays On September 20

If you can spare some time today, here are some unique holidays you could get involved with.

National Pepperoni Pizza Day

There are countless types of pizza for us to all enjoy, but the most popular is undoubtedly the legendary pepperoni. In fact, it’s such a delicious topping that it’s been given its own holiday. So celebrate National Pepperoni Pizza Day today by gorging yourself silly on pepperoni pizza!

National Punch Day

Please don’t go around punching people today, and don’t go honoring your hole punches anymore than usual, either. National Punch Day instead celebrates punch, the delicious drink as old as time itself. So mix up a delicious bowl of punch today and sip on it to your heart's content!

September 20 Birthday Facts, Zodiac & Birthstone

People who were born on September 20 share the Virgo zodiac sign.

Virgos tend to deal with information similar to a computer; they can quickly process information and organize it into something easily understandable for themselves and others.

Sapphire is the birthstone that is allocated to anybody born during September. The name sapphire comes from the Latin word “saphirus” and the Greek “sapheiros,” which both mean “blue.”

People born on this day were likely conceived on or around December 28^th in the previous year.