October 13

Commissioned by King Henry III, the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey began in 1245 to serve as a royal church and shrine to St. Edward the Confessor. After more than two decades of construction, the new Gothic edifice was solemnly consecrated on October 13, 1269. Its soaring arches, intricate carvings, and luminous stained glass exemplified the emerging English Gothic style. Over centuries, Westminster Abbey became the setting for coronations, royal weddings, and national ceremonies. The 13th-century building still stands today as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of British history.

In October 1881, language pioneer Eliezer Ben-Yehuda led friends in a groundbreaking experiment to converse solely in Hebrew. This event marked the first known modern dialogue in the resurrected language, which had primarily been used in religious contexts. Ben-Yehuda's dedication to daily Hebrew speech laid the foundation for its revival as a living language. Their experiment inspired others and fueled movements to adopt Hebrew in schools, newspapers, and homes. Over time, this revival transformed Hebrew into the national language of the future State of Israel. The 1881 conversation remains a symbolic origin of modern Hebrew culture.