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30 September: what is celebrated today
30 September is not just another date on the calendar. It is a day that invites us to reflect on freedom of expression, the power of language, and new forms of communication. From commemorating translators who build bridges between cultures, to defending the right to dissent and celebrating podcasts as a growing digital medium, this day brings together different perspectives on how we communicate and share the world.
International Translation Day
Since 1991, the International Federation of Translators (FIT) has celebrated International Translation Day every 30 September. This observance seeks to recognise the value of translators and interpreters, professionals who make understanding possible between peoples and cultures on an increasingly globalised planet.
The date pays tribute to Saint Jerome of Stridon, patron saint of translators, famous for his monumental work of translating the Bible from Hebrew into Latin and Greek.
International Blasphemy Rights Day
The same day also commemorates International Blasphemy Rights Day, promoted by the US organisation Center for Inquiry. Its purpose is to defend individuals’ freedom to express their views towards religions, even critically or irreverently.
The word “blasphemy” comes from Greek and means “to insult”. Although in some countries this act may be considered a serious crime, in others it is claimed as a right linked to freedom of expression. The observance recalls, among other events, the controversy that arose in Denmark in 2005 after the publication of cartoons of Muhammad, which generated a strong international debate about the limits of religious criticism.
International Podcast Day
In a world where new technologies set the pace of communication, International Podcast Day celebrates the rise of this digital format. Created in 2014 by Steve Lee, founder of Modern Life Network, it began as a “National Podcast Day” in the United States, with a six-hour broadcast, and soon became a global event.
Today, thousands of podcasters from all over the world share their stories, interviews, investigations and reflections in this format that combines intimacy, flexibility and mass reach.
30 September reminds us that communication takes many forms: translation that unites, criticism that questions and digital innovation that amplifies. All of them, ultimately, have the same common thread: the human need to express and share ideas.