The international top 20 events includes: Mother’s Day, International Workers’ Day, Memorial Day, Eid al-Fitr, 5inco de mayo, 2020, Waco siege, 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, George Floyd protests, Battle of Stalingrad, FIFA World Cup, Formula One, 2020 Summer Olympics, Normandy landings, Father’s day, Iraq War, Ivy League, 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Battle of Midway and Victory Day.
Briefly about the method
Wikipedia currently has over 53 million articles in over 300 languages. Despite the impressive number of articles, not all topics can be written in this free encyclopedia. At the same time, the community of each language version has the ability to decide which topic can be described in the encyclopedia, and which is not (for example, article must be notable). In addition, each language version can describe the same topic in its own way – it all depends on the number and experience of interested authors (Wikipedia users who edit articles).
Almost every Wikipedia article has an alignment to certain categories. Additionally, based on the content, you can specify the subject of the article – for example, using semantic relations on Wikidata or DBpedia. More details on the automatic classification process can be found in various scholarly papers (e.g. for articles or sources).
This article selected the most-developed language versions of Wikipedia with more than 1 million articles, including English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish and other. After the classification of articles, only those that are dedicated to individual events. As a result for English Wikipedia 59160 articles about events were found, for French – 22438 events, for Italian – 19690 events, for German – 18462 events, for Spanish – 15275 events, for Russian – 13887 events, for Portuguese – 11891 events, for Polish – 10564 events, for Japanese – 7061 events, for Arabic – 6917 events and for Chinese – 5916 events.
As mentioned earlier, every Wikipedia article can have different language versions, so we can find out different names of the same object (event). Using open data on Wikipedia article views we can find out how many times a given article has been viewed on specific days. After collecting data for viewing all Wikipedia articles on events in the appropriate language versions May 2020 ranking of the most popular was made. First, the positions of events in the ranking are shown, which were obtained by adding up the page views from different language versions for a given event. Later, the most popular events are shown for only one language version of Wikipedia.
Recently we observed that visitors number for some articles was “overclocked” in some periods of time. Therefore, we decide to provide additional modification of the pageview statistics for such cases and change this number (usually by reduction). Fairness of statistics for each article in selected language version in selected months can be assessed using such indicators as: number of the edits and authors, page protection, the rate of citation increasing of the article, popularity statistics of related keywords (phrases) in Google Trends and others.
1st place – Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers, in May 2020 the event was on the 1st place in French, Italian, Polish, on the 2nd place in Spanish, Portuguese, on the 3rd place in German, Chinese, on the 4th place in English, on the 9th place in Japanese, on the 12th place in Russian and on the 13th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
2nd place – International Workers’ Day
International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day, in May 2020 the event was on the 1st place in Spanish, Portuguese, on the 2nd place in German, Italian, on the 5th place in Russian, on the 6th place in Polish, on the 8th place in French, Japanese, on the 9th place in English, on the 13th place in Chinese and on the 25th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
3rd place – Memorial Day
Memorial Day – United States federal holiday remembering those who died in military service, in May 2020 the event was on the 2nd place in English, on the 5th place in Chinese, on the 18th place in German, on the 31st place in Portuguese, on the 40th place in Spanish, on the 50th place in Japanese, on the 52nd place in French, on the 77th place in Russian, on the 86th place in Italian, on the 103rd place in Polish and on the 110th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
4th place – Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, in May 2020 the event was on the 3rd place in Arabic, on the 5th place in German, on the 6th place in English, on the 8th place in Chinese, on the 9th place in French, on the 10th place in Russian, on the 89th place in Italian, on the 96th place in Spanish, on the 122nd place in Portuguese, on the 137th place in Japanese and on the 157th place in Polish Wikipedia.
5th place – 5inco de mayo
5inco de mayo – annual celebration held on May 5, in May 2020 the event was on the 4th place in Spanish, on the 5th place in English, on the 19th place in Portuguese, on the 35th place in French, on the 49th place in German, on the 69th place in Chinese, on the 83rd place in Italian, on the 124th place in Japanese, on the 155th place in Polish, on the 313th place in Arabic and on the 376th place in Russian Wikipedia.
6th place – 2020
2020 – year, in May 2020 the event was on the 5th place in Japanese, on the 6th place in Spanish, on the 7th place in English, Portuguese, on the 10th place in Italian, on the 11th place in Russian, on the 12th place in German, on the 14th place in Arabic, French, Chinese and on the 18th place in Polish Wikipedia.
7th place – Waco siege
Waco siege – struggle between the U.S government and armed inhabitants of a compound in Texas, in May 2020 the event was on the 1st place in English, on the 39th place in French, on the 72nd place in Chinese, on the 130th place in Russian, on the 187th place in Portuguese, on the 203rd place in Italian and on the 280th place in Spanish Wikipedia.
8th place – 1989 Tiananmen Square protests
1989 Tiananmen Square protests – pro-democracy movement in PR China in 1989, in May 2020 the event was on the 1st place in Chinese, on the 6th place in Japanese, on the 8th place in English, on the 34th place in Italian, on the 41st place in German, on the 47th place in Polish, on the 52nd place in Portuguese, on the 61st place in French, on the 73rd place in Russian, on the 77th place in Spanish and on the 96th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
9th place – George Floyd protests
George Floyd protests – series of civil disturbances in the US and worldwide following the death of George Floyd, in response to consequences of institutional racism in USA, in May 2020 the event was on the 3rd place in English, on the 7th place in Chinese, on the 111th place in French, on the 140th place in Arabic, on the 159th place in Japanese, on the 278th place in Russian, on the 383rd place in Portuguese and on the 572nd place in Spanish Wikipedia.
10th place – Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II, in May 2020 the event was on the 2nd place in Russian, on the 8th place in German, on the 9th place in Spanish, on the 11th place in Italian, on the 17th place in Portuguese, on the 19th place in English, on the 21st place in French, on the 24th place in Chinese, on the 28th place in Japanese, Polish and on the 47th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
11th place – FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams, in May 2020 the event was on the 3rd place in Portuguese, on the 5th place in Spanish, on the 8th place in Italian, on the 10th place in French, on the 11th place in German, English, on the 13th place in Japanese, on the 14th place in Polish, on the 19th place in Arabic, on the 24th place in Russian and on the 38th place in Chinese Wikipedia.
12th place – Formula One
Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide, in May 2020 the event was on the 6th place in Portuguese, on the 9th place in German, Italian, on the 13th place in Spanish, on the 14th place in English, Japanese, on the 15th place in French, on the 29th place in Polish, on the 31st place in Chinese, on the 33rd place in Russian and on the 138th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
13th place – 2020 Summer Olympics
2020 Summer Olympics – games of the XXXII Olympiad, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2021, in May 2020 the event was on the 5th place in Portuguese, on the 7th place in Japanese, on the 12th place in Chinese, on the 17th place in English, on the 19th place in Spanish, on the 24th place in Italian, on the 31st place in Polish, on the 50th place in French, on the 55th place in German, on the 59th place in Russian and on the 141st place in Arabic Wikipedia.
14th place – Normandy landings
Normandy landings – landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in May 2020 the event was on the 4th place in Italian, on the 12th place in English, on the 16th place in French, Portuguese, on the 21st place in Japanese, on the 30th place in Russian, on the 45th place in Polish, on the 80th place in German and on the 120th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
15th place – Father’s day
Father’s day – celebration honoring fathers, in May 2020 the event was on the 4th place in German, on the 16th place in Polish, on the 33rd place in English, on the 34th place in Spanish, on the 35th place in Chinese, on the 64th place in Japanese, on the 75th place in Portuguese, on the 79th place in French, on the 86th place in Arabic, on the 111th place in Italian and on the 171st place in Russian Wikipedia.
16th place – Iraq War
Iraq War – military campaign during the Global War on Terrorism, in May 2020 the event was on the 11th place in Chinese, on the 17th place in French, on the 21st place in English, on the 22nd place in German, on the 26th place in Italian, on the 28th place in Spanish, on the 37th place in Japanese, on the 43rd place in Arabic, on the 46th place in Russian and on the 49th place in Portuguese Wikipedia.
17th place – Ivy League
Ivy League – athletic conference of 8 American universities, in May 2020 the event was on the 10th place in English, on the 19th place in Chinese, on the 53rd place in German, on the 56th place in Russian, on the 59th place in Portuguese, on the 65th place in French, on the 68th place in Japanese, on the 76th place in Spanish, on the 108th place in Italian, on the 156th place in Polish and on the 222nd place in Arabic Wikipedia.
18th place – 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
2019–2020 Hong Kong protests – pro-democracy demonstrations and other civil disobedience sparked by a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong, in May 2020 the event was on the 2nd place in Chinese, on the 18th place in English, on the 46th place in Japanese, on the 54th place in German, on the 143rd place in Russian, on the 181st place in French, on the 204th place in Italian, on the 226th place in Portuguese, on the 307th place in Polish, on the 311th place in Arabic and on the 331st place in Spanish Wikipedia.
19th place – Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway – decisive naval battle of World War II, in May 2020 the event was on the 9th place in Chinese, on the 15th place in English, on the 16th place in Japanese, on the 33rd place in German, on the 36th place in Italian, on the 38th place in Spanish, Polish, on the 67th place in Portuguese, on the 68th place in French, on the 71st place in Russian and on the 179th place in Arabic Wikipedia.
20th place – Victory Day
Victory Day – public holidays in Russia and ex-USSR, in May 2020 the event was on the 1st place in Russian, on the 19th place in German, on the 42nd place in English, on the 79th place in Spanish, on the 101st place in Portuguese, on the 123rd place in Chinese, on the 137th place in Arabic, on the 140th place in Italian and on the 142nd place in French Wikipedia.
The most popular events in Arabic Wikipedia
- Battle of Badr – battle in the early days of Islam
- Laylat al-Qadr – anniversary of two very important dates in Islam
- Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- Battle of Uhud – battle
- Battle of Yarmouk – battle of the Arab–Byzantine wars
- Battle of Ain Jalut – battle between the Mamluk Sultanate and the Mongol Empire
- Battle of the Trench – battle near Medina in 627
- French campaign in Egypt and Syria – military conflict
- Siege of Uthman – event leading to Caliph Uthman’s assassination
- Battle of Hunayn
- Conquest of Constantinople – the Ottoman Empire captures the capital of the Byzantine Empire
- Battle of the Camel – 7th-century battle of the First Fitna
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- 2020 – year
- Battle of Mu’tah – September 629 battle
- Battle of Siffin – 7th-century battle of the First Fitna
- Isra and Mi’raj – Islamic event and festival
- Battle of al-Qādisiyyah – engagement between the Arab Muslim army and the Sassanid Persian army in 636
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- Battle of Hattin – victory of Saladin over the Crudaser Kingdom of Jerusalem that led to Third Crusade
The most popular events in Chinese Wikipedia
- 1989 Tiananmen Square protests – pro-democracy movement in PR China in 1989
- 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests – pro-democracy demonstrations and other civil disobedience sparked by a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- Sino-Indian War – 1962 border conflict between China and India
- Memorial Day – United States federal holiday remembering those who died in military service
- Edison Chen photo scandal – Edison Chen photo scandal
- George Floyd protests – series of civil disturbances in the US and worldwide following the death of George Floyd, in response to consequences of institutional racism in USA
- Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- Battle of Midway – decisive naval battle of World War II
- 2014 Hong Kong protests – protest
- Iraq War – military campaign during the Global War on Terrorism
- 2020 Summer Olympics – games of the XXXII Olympiad, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2021
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- 2020 – year
- United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 – United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in 1971
- The Night Night Show – Taiwan’s stand-up comedy talk show
- Children’s day – one of many public observances in honor of children
- Battle of Guningtou – 1949 battle during the Chinese civil war
- Ivy League – athletic conference of 8 American universities
- Vesak – Buddhist festival marking the birth of the Buddha
The most popular events in English Wikipedia
- Waco siege – struggle between the U.S government and armed inhabitants of a compound in Texas
- Memorial Day – United States federal holiday remembering those who died in military service
- George Floyd protests – series of civil disturbances in the US and worldwide following the death of George Floyd, in response to consequences of institutional racism in USA
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- 5inco de mayo – annual celebration held on May 5
- Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- 2020 – year
- 1989 Tiananmen Square protests – pro-democracy movement in PR China in 1989
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Ivy League – athletic conference of 8 American universities
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- Normandy landings – landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy
- Star Wars Day – annual observance on May 4th every year to celebrate the Star Wars series
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- Battle of Midway – decisive naval battle of World War II
- Shavuot – Jewish holiday
- 2020 Summer Olympics – games of the XXXII Olympiad, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2021
- 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests – pro-democracy demonstrations and other civil disobedience sparked by a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong
- Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II
- 2019 United Kingdom general election – general election held in the United Kingdom
The most popular events in French Wikipedia
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- Revolucion Francesa – revolutionary city council of Paris 1871
- Battle of Montcornet – engagement of the Battle of France on 17 May 1940
- Ligue 1 – French professional league for association football clubs
- Tour de France – multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France
- Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – science museum in Paris
- Yellow vests movement – French social movement
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- 2017 French presidential election – presidential election in France
- Battle of France – German invasion of France
- 2019–20 UEFA Champions League – the 65th season of Europe’s premier club football tournament organised by UEFA
- 2020 – year
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- Normandy landings – landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy
- Iraq War – military campaign during the Global War on Terrorism
- Battle of Waterloo – final battle of the Napoleonic Wars
- Battle of Verdun – battle on the Western Front during the First World War
- Battle of Bouvines – medieval battle which ended the 1202–1214 Anglo-French War
The most popular events in German Wikipedia
- Proteste während der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- Father’s day – celebration honoring fathers
- Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- Battle of Berlin – final major offensive of the European theatre of World War II
- Macuto Bay raid – Conflict in Venezuela
- Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- Eurovision Song Contest – annual song competition held among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- 2020 – year
- German federal election, 20. German Bundestag – General election to the 20. German Bundestag
- Battle of Cartagena – battle
- 2017 German federal election – General election to the 19th German Bundestag
- Battle of France – German invasion of France
- Walpurgis Night – Germanic festival celebrating the start of summer
- Memorial Day – United States federal holiday remembering those who died in military service
- Victory Day – public holidays in Russia and ex-USSR
- Invasion of Poland – 1939 military invasion of Poland, first campaign of World War II in Europe
The most popular events in Italian Wikipedia
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- 1936 Summer Olympics – games of the XI Olympiad, celebrated in Berlin in 1936
- Normandy landings – landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy
- Expedition of the Thousand – event of the Italian Risorgimento which took place in 1860
- Council of Trent – 19th Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church
- I Have a Dream – 1963 speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr.
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- 2020 – year
- Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II
- March on Rome – organized mass demonstration in October 1922, which resulted in the Partito Nazionale Fascista acceding to power in the Kingdom of Italy
- Second Vatican Council – Roman Catholic ecumenical council held in Vatican City from 1962 to 1965
- Battle of Caporetto – World War I Battle
- Sanremo Music Festival – popular Italian song contest
- 1896 Summer Olympics – Games of the I Olympiad, celebrated in Athens (Greece) in 1896
- Battle of Waterloo – final battle of the Napoleonic Wars
- Allied invasion of Sicily – 1943 military campaign of World War II on the island of Sicily, Italy
- Tour de France – multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France
- Capture of Rome – final event of Italian unification
The most popular events in Japanese Wikipedia
- Battle of Nagara-gawa
- Battle of Okehazama – battle
- Battle of Sekigahara – battle preceding Tokugawa shogunate in Japan
- Siege of Osaka – series of battles undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan
- 2020 – year
- 1989 Tiananmen Square protests – pro-democracy movement in PR China in 1989
- 2020 Summer Olympics – games of the XXXII Olympiad, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2021
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- Battle of Nagashino – 1575 battle in Japan
- 2019 – year
- Yushun Himba
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- Battles of Khalkhin Gol – 1939 battles between the USSR and Japan
- Battle of Midway – decisive naval battle of World War II
- Battle of Okinawa – major battle of the Pacific War
- Battle of the Bulge – German offensive through the Ardennes forest on the Western Front towards the end of World War II
- Battle of Komaki and Nagakute – battle
- Battle of Shizugatake – battle
The most popular events in Polish Wikipedia
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- 2020 Polish presidential election – Planned presidential elections in Poland
- Battle of Grunwald – battle of Teutonic Knights against Polish–Lithuanian union in 1410
- Battle of Warsaw – battle between Poland and the Soviet Union, 1920
- Poznań 1956 protests – demonstration
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Battle of Monte Cassino – assaults by the Allies against the Winter Line in Italy held by Axis forces during the Italian Campaign of World War II
- June 1976 protests
- Children’s day – one of many public observances in honor of children
- Polish National Flag Day
- Invasion of Poland – 1939 military invasion of Poland, first campaign of World War II in Europe
- Afghanistan War – military campaign during the Global War on Terrorism
- French invasion of Russia – unsuccessful military campaign (June–Dec. 1812) by Napoleonic France against the Russian Empire, aiming to compel Russia to cease trading with Britain
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- Second Vatican Council – Roman Catholic ecumenical council held in Vatican City from 1962 to 1965
- Father’s day – celebration honoring fathers
- Battle of Vienna – Battle near Vienna on 12 September 1683, between the Christian European States and the Ottomans, won by Christians commanded by Polish King John III Sobieski
- 2020 – year
- Battle of Legnica – battle between Polish and Mongol forces
- Battle of Racławice – battle
The most popular events in Portuguese Wikipedia
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- Brazilian presidential election, 2018
- 2020 Summer Olympics – games of the XXXII Olympiad, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2021
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- 2020 – year
- Copa Libertadores – South American association football tournament for clubs
- Reconquista – period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula (Stay at home)
- rhythmic gymnastics – gymnastics accompanied by music
- Valentine’s Day – holiday observed on February 14 to celebrate love and friendship
- Battle of Aljubarrota – 1385 battle in Portugal
- Children’s day – one of many public observances in honor of children
- 2016 Summer Olympics – Games of the XXXI Olympiad, held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016
- Towel Day – Annually celebrated May 25 to commemorate H2G2 by carrying a towel the entire day.
- Normandy landings – landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy
- Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II
- 1896 Summer Olympics – Games of the I Olympiad, celebrated in Athens (Greece) in 1896
- 5inco de mayo – annual celebration held on May 5
- UEFA Europa League – annual association football club competition organized by UEFA since 1971
The most popular events in Russian Wikipedia
- Victory Day – public holidays in Russia and ex-USSR
- Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II
- Battle of Kursk – World War II battle in the Soviet Union
- Battle of Moscow – periods of strategically significant fighting on a 600 km (370 mi) sector of the Eastern Front during World War II
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- French invasion of Russia – unsuccessful military campaign (June–Dec. 1812) by Napoleonic France against the Russian Empire, aiming to compel Russia to cease trading with Britain
- Siege of Leningrad – 8 September 1941 – 27 January 1944 blockade of Leningrad by the Axis
- Battle of Kulikovo – battle between Russian principalities and Golden Horde
- Operation Bagration – military offensive
- Eid al-Fitr – Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- 2020 – year
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- Battle of Berlin – final major offensive of the European theatre of World War II
- Battles of Rzhev – series of Soviet Operations in World War II
- Victory Day 2020
- Mongol invasion of Rus’ – The part of the Mongolian invasion of Europe
- Battles of Khalkhin Gol – 1939 battles between the USSR and Japan
- Battle in Berlin – military operations in the city of Berlin near the end of World War II
- Battle of the Ice – Part of Northern Crusades
- Battle of Borodino – battle of the French invasion of Russia during the Napoleonic Wars
The most popular events in Spanish Wikipedia
- International Workers’ Day – celebration in the international labour movement on May Day
- Mother’s Day – celebration honoring mothers
- Battle of Puebla – part of the French intervention in Mexico
- 5inco de mayo – annual celebration held on May 5
- FIFA World Cup – association football competition for men’s national teams
- 2020 – year
- International Nurses Day – observance to mark the contributions nurses make to society
- British invasions of the River Plate – invasion
- Battle of Stalingrad – major battle of World War II
- Battle of Las Piedras – battle in the Uruguayan struggle for independence
- Conquest of Constantinople – the Ottoman Empire captures the capital of the Byzantine Empire
- Operation Condor – series of anti-communist, anti-dissent campaigns in South America
- Formula One – auto racing championship held worldwide
- Reconquista – period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula (Stay at home)
- Teachers’ Day – day for the appreciation of teachers
- 2019–20 Chilean protests – protests in Chile
- Council of Trent – 19th Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church
- Copa Libertadores – South American association football tournament for clubs
- 2020 Summer Olympics – games of the XXXII Olympiad, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2021
- Battle of Pichincha – battle of the Ecuadorian War of Independence on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano overlooking Quito, resulting in a final victory for the independence movement
The most popular events in other months are available on https://wikirank.net/top/event