Born on September 23
International Day of Sign Languages
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Next: September 23, 2027
Where it comes from
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 23 September the International Day of Sign Languages in December 2017, on a proposal from the World Federation of the Deaf; the first observance was in 2018. The date is the anniversary of the federation's founding in Rome in 1951.
How it's celebrated
Deaf associations hold public sign-language lessons, performances and marches; landmarks are lit blue; governments are pressed to give national sign languages legal recognition. Many hearing people learn to sign a greeting or a thank-you for the day.
Did you know
There are more than 300 sign languages in the world; they are full natural languages, not signed versions of spoken ones, and differ even between countries that share a spoken language.
Read the full story of International Day of Sign Languages
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Libra · September 23 – October 22 · Air sign
Fair-minded and charming, forever weighing both sides.