Wikipedia Day is celebrated on January 15 each year, marking the launch of Wikipedia in 2001. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia written and edited by volunteers around the world. It has editions in more than 300 languages, and the English edition alone has millions of articles. It's one of the most visited websites in the world and a common starting point for research.
History of Wikipedia Day
Wikipedia grew out of Nupedia, an online encyclopedia started in 2000 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Nupedia used experts and a slow review process, and it produced few articles. To speed things up, Wales and Sanger launched Wikipedia on January 15, 2001, using wiki software that let anyone edit pages.
The name combines 'wiki', from a Hawaiian word meaning 'quick', and 'encyclopedia'. Wikipedia grew rapidly, and in 2003, the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation was created to support it. Editions in other languages quickly followed.
Over time, Wikipedia developed policies to improve quality, including requiring reliable sources, a neutral point of view and verifiability. Volunteer editors watch for vandalism, and automated bots help fix common problems. Wikipedia is funded mainly by donations and doesn't run advertising.
Why Wikipedia Day Matters
Wikipedia offers free access to knowledge for anyone with an internet connection, supporting education around the world.
Its volunteer model is a remarkable example of global collaboration, with people contributing their time and expertise for free.
Wikipedia Day is also a good moment to practice media literacy: using Wikipedia as a starting point, checking its cited sources and understanding how its content is created.
Wikipedia also depends on community care. Thousands of volunteers review recent changes, discuss disagreements on talk pages and improve articles on topics from local history to science. Many libraries, museums and universities host editing events, helping fill gaps in coverage, such as articles about women scientists, artists and underrepresented communities.
How to Celebrate Wikipedia Day
- Make an edit: fix a typo or add a reliable source.
- Check citations: follow references to original sources.
- Attend an edit-a-thon: join events that improve coverage of underrepresented topics.
- Donate: support the nonprofit that runs Wikipedia.
- Explore a random article: click 'Random article' and learn something new.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, share an interesting article your team discovered or host a short session on fact-checking and evaluating sources. In classrooms, students can learn how Wikipedia articles are written, practice tracing claims to sources and discuss when encyclopedia articles are and aren't appropriate to cite. At home, families can play a Wikipedia game, racing to get from one article to another using only links.
Fun Facts About Wikipedia Day
- Wikipedia launched on January 15, 2001.
- 'Wiki' comes from a Hawaiian word meaning 'quick'.
- Wikipedia has editions in more than 300 languages.
Wikipedia Day FAQs
When is Wikipedia Day?
Wikipedia Day is celebrated on January 15 each year.
When was Wikipedia founded?
Wikipedia launched on January 15, 2001.
Who founded Wikipedia?
Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
Who writes Wikipedia?
Volunteer editors around the world write and edit Wikipedia.
Is Wikipedia reliable?
It's a useful starting point, but readers should check the cited sources.
Where does the name Wikipedia come from?
It combines 'wiki', Hawaiian for 'quick', and 'encyclopedia'.