Russia commemorates the Day of Information Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on September 23, alongside the global observance of International Day of Sign Languages.
The Russian holiday traces its origin to September 23, 1918, when the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic approved regulations establishing the statistical department of the Commissariat of Internal Affairs. The agency originally compiled and maintained records detailing the dynamics of domestic crime.
Today, information units within the Ministry of Internal Affairs manage extensive databases, including fingerprint records, forensic appraisals, and archival documents. As Russia's primary internal law enforcement authority, the ministry relies on these statistics departments to supply scientific, operational, and criminalistic data to government bodies.
Global Observances and Technological Milestones
On the international calendar, September 23 marks the International Day of Sign Languages, established by the United Nations and first celebrated in 2018. The annual event recognizes the vital role of sign languages for deaf people and promotes accessible social environments for individuals with disabilities.
Figures from the World Federation of the Deaf show that more than 70 million deaf people live across the globe, collectively using more than 300 distinct sign languages.
September 23 is also celebrated as the birthday of chewing gum, commemorating the date in 1848 when American inventor John Curtis created a commercial sweet from resin and paraffin at his home.
Earlier prototypes of chewing gum date back much further. Archaeologists conducting excavations in northern Europe discovered pieces of prehistoric resin bearing human tooth impressions that date from between the seventh and second centuries BC.
Additional holidays observed on September 23 include the founding anniversary of the Russian search engine Yandex, Educational Technology Day, and Tea Dragon Day. Yandex functions as Russia's dominant internet search platform.
Orthodox Saints and Folk Traditions
Eastern Orthodox believers honor Venerable Joasaph of Kamen on September 23. Born Prince Andrei of Vologda, he was the son of Prince Dimitry of Zaozerye from the Yaroslavl noble lineage.
At age 20, Prince Andrei entered the Spaso-Kamenny Monastery on Lake Kubenskoye and took monastic vows under the name Joasaph. Church tradition records that he led an austere life of prayer and fasting, consuming food only once a week in his final days before dying peacefully on September 23, 1453. Accounts of his life state that healings occurred at his tomb.
The Orthodox calendar also remembers Saints Minodora, Mitrodora, and Nymphodora, Venerable Paul the Obedient, Apostles Apelles, Lucius, and Clement of the Seventy, and Bishops Peter and Paul of Nicaea on this day.
In traditional Slavic culture, September 23 is known as Peter and Paul Ryabinniki, or Rowan-Gatherers Day. Rural custom called for harvesting rowan tree berries on this date, when the fruit was believed to acquire special healing powers.
Householders hung clusters of rowan berries around their homes as protective amulets. Young women whispered their innermost wishes to rowan trees in hopes of fulfillment, while folklore warned against boasting about personal accomplishments to avoid bringing on difficult trials. High berry counts on the trees were seen as a sign of a rainy autumn ahead.
Cultural Figures Born on September 23
Several prominent cultural figures share a September 23 birthday. Soviet and Russian historian, playwright, and television presenter Edvard Radzinsky turns 90 years old.
Radzinsky wrote popular books and television broadcasts on Russian history, as well as screenplays for seven television films including Once More About Love and Every Evening at Eleven. Theatre directors Anatoly Efros and Roman Viktyuk staged his plays across major venues.
Spanish pop singer Julio Iglesias celebrates his 83rd birthday on September 23. Iglesias has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, earning induction into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and a place in the Guinness World Records as the best-selling Latin recording artist.
Other public figures born on September 23 include Russian journalist Elena Vinnik, who turns 50, alongside late Franco-German actress Romy Schneider, who lived from 1938 to 1982, and late Soviet and Russian actor Ivan Krasko, who lived from 1930 to 2025.
