Saturday, 21st September 1968 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's International Day of Peace and World Alzheimer's Day. Explore 52 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings cloudy with temperatures between 11°C and 16°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Virgo. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Saturday, 21st September in London, GB.
On 21 September 1968, London experienced cloudy conditions as residents of the British capital went about their Saturday. The city, situated on the River Thames in south-east England, has served as a major centre of commerce, politics and culture for nearly two millennia. That same day, the Soviet Union's Zond 5 spacecraft safely returned to Earth after becoming the first vehicle to travel around the Moon and return successfully, marking a significant achievement in the space race during the Cold War era.
The date fell during the waxing gibbous moon phase, a period when the lunar disc was nearly full and approaching its peak illumination. Those born on this day fell under the Virgo zodiac sign, characterised by those born between late August and late September. The weather conditions across London remained overcast throughout the day, typical of autumn conditions in the capital.
Throughout history, 21 September has witnessed remarkable events. In 1943, the German Army began the Massacre of the Acqui Division on the Greek island of Cephalonia, an atrocity that resulted in the execution of 5,155 Italian soldiers over the following five days. More recently, in 2004, American rock band Green Day released their seventh studio album, American Idiot, which became one of the most significant commercial and critical successes of their career.
DayAtlas provides users with comprehensive information for any date and location, including historical events, notable births and deaths, alongside meteorological data and astrological details.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 21st September 1968
Three threads woven hold what one strand snaps beneath.
Fortune of the Day
21st September in the Stars – Star Sign Virgo
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on September 21st blend analytical precision with artistic sensitivity. The Venus influence of the third decan softens typical Virgo criticism, adding charm and a genuine need for harmony. They think clearly, communicate elegantly, and seek beauty in everyday life.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths include meticulous attention to detail, practical intelligence, and interpersonal finesse. However, they can become overly perfectionist and hypercritical of mistakes—in themselves and others. Occasional self-doubt can inhibit their natural creativity.
Love In relationships, these individuals prove attentive and deeply loyal. They value intellectual connection as much as physical intimacy. Their analytical nature may sometimes limit romantic spontaneity, yet their reliability builds lasting trust.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they excel as consultants, therapists, or in creative crafts. Their blend of logic and aesthetic sensibility makes them invaluable. Financially, they are prudent savers who manage money wisely without being stingy.
Health Nervousness and overexertion are common challenges. Regular relaxation through creative hobbies or massage provides balance. Their predisposition toward digestive sensitivity requires mindful eating and stress management.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Monkey (Earth).
Fun Facts About 21st September
Name Days in Your Language: Maira, Maura, Maureen, Mayra, Mira, Moira, Moreen, Morena, Myra, Norna
Someone born on this day in 1968 would be 57 years old today — just 21,031 days into life, which is roughly 504,744 hours, 30,284,648 minutes, or 1,817,078,893 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 265. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 101 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 38 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 21st September
- John Crawley, English cricketer and academic (1971)
- James Lesure, Americana actor (1971)
- Alfonso Ribeiro, American actor, director, and comedian (1971)
- Luke Wilson, American actor, director, and screenwriter (1971)
- Rob Benedict, American actor, screenwriter, and musician (1970)
- Melissa Ferrick, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (1970)
- Samantha Power, Irish-American journalist, academic, and diplomat, 28th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1970)
- Anne Burrell, American chef and television host (died 2025) (1969)
- Jason Christiansen, American baseball player (1969)
- Curtis Leschyshyn, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster (1969)
Lives Remembered on 21st September
- Bernardo Houssay, Argentinian physiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1887) (1971)
- Paul Reynaud, French lawyer and politician, 118th Prime Minister of France (born 1878) (1966)
- Josef Müller, Croatian entomologist (born 1880) (1964)
- Paulino Masip, Spanish author, playwright, and screenwriter (born 1899) (1963)
- Bo Carter, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1892) (1962)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 21st September
- Autumnal equinox observances in the Northern Hemisphere, vernal equinox observances in the Southern Hemisphere (see September 22): Spring Day (Argentina)
- Christian feast day: Cadoc
- Christian feast day: Ephigenia of Ethiopia
- Christian feast day: Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert (one of the Korean Martyrs)
- Christian feast day: Matthew the Evangelist (Western Church)
- Christian feast day: Maura of Troyes
- Christian feast day: Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Church, Julian calendar)
- Christian feast day: September 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Arbor Day (Brazil)
- Commemoration of the Declaration of Martial Law (Philippines)
- Customs Service Day (Poland)
- Founder's Day and National Volunteer Day (Ghana)
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union in 1991.
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Belize from the United Kingdom in 1981.
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Malta from the United Kingdom in 1964.
- International Day of Peace (International)
- Student's Day (Bolivia)
- Victory over the Golden Horde in the Battle of Kulikovo (Russia)
What Happened on 21st September?
- Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations. (1971)
- Mexicana de Aviación Flight 801, a Boeing 727-100 passenger plane, crashes during a landing attempt in Mexico City, killing 27 of the 118 occupants. (1969)
- The Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations. (1965)
- Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom, but remains in the Commonwealth. (1964)
- The North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the world's fastest bomber, makes its maiden flight from Palmdale, California. (1964)