World Parkinson's Day
Next: April 11, 2027
A red tulip for steady friends.
The story
Where it comes from
World Parkinson's Day was launched on 11 April 1997 by the European Parkinson's Disease Association, now Parkinson's Europe, with the World Health Organization as co-sponsor. The date is the birthday of James Parkinson, the London doctor whose 'Essay on the Shaking Palsy', published in 1817, first described the condition that now bears his name. The first day launched a charter asking people with Parkinson's, their families and health professionals to work together to raise awareness, and it was backed by figures such as Muhammad Ali and Luciano Pavarotti.
How it's celebrated
Parkinson's groups around the world hold awareness campaigns, talks, webinars, wellbeing events and fundraisers on 11 April, and many people wear or share a red tulip, the symbol of Parkinson's. It is also a good day to check in on someone living with the condition, and on the family and friends who care for them, since they often spend many hours a day helping.
Did you know
- The red tulip comes from J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch grower with Parkinson's, who developed a red-and-white tulip in 1980 and named it 'Dr James Parkinson'; it became the official symbol in 2005.
- After the first World Parkinson's Day, WHO set up a working group that led to the first Global Declaration on Parkinson's Disease, launched in Mumbai, India, in December 2003.
- According to WHO, the number of people with Parkinson's has doubled in 25 years, to more than 8.5 million in 2019.
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