It is to honor the Art Nouveau movement, an international style of art, architecture, and applied arts popular from the late 19th to early 20th century. Initiated in 2013 by the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest and Szecessziós Magazin, the date commemorates the deaths of architects Antoni Gaudí and Ödön Lechner, key figures in the movement.

The day promotes awareness of Art Nouveau’s distinctive features, such as flowing lines, organic forms, and intricate designs inspired by nature, through events like exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, and photo contests.