On This Day November 29th

 OTD

November 29th is the 333rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 32 days remain until the end of the year.

 

 Events

1612 – The Battle of Swally takes place, which loosens the Portuguese Empire's hold on India.

1777 – San Jose, California, is founded as Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe by José Joaquín Moraga. It is the first civilian settlement, or pueblo, in Alta California.

1783 – A 5.3 magnitude earthquake strikes New Jersey.

1890 – The Meiji Constitution was enacted in Japan, and the first Diet convened.

1899 – Catalan, Spanish, and Englishmen founded FC Barcelona. It later became one of Spanish football's most iconic and potent teams.

1929 – U.S. Admiral Richard E. Byrd led the first expedition to fly over the South Pole.

1952 – U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower fulfilled a campaign promise by traveling to Korea to find out what could be done to end the conflict.

1961 – Enos, a chimpanzee, is launched into space. The spacecraft orbits the Earth twice and splashes down off the coast of Puerto Rico.

1963 – "I Want to Hold Your Hand", recorded on October 17, 1963, is released by the Beatles in the United Kingdom.

1972 – Atari releases Pong, the first commercially successful video game.

 

Birthdays

1627 – John Ray, English biologist and botanist (d. 1705)

1803 – Gottfried Semper, German architect and academic, designed the Semper Opera House (d. 1879)

1832 – Louisa May Alcott, American novelist and poet (d. 1888)

1898 – C. S. Lewis, British novelist, poet, and critic (d. 1963)

1917 – Merle Travis, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1983)

1925 – Minnie Miñoso, Cuban-American baseball player and coach (d. 2015)

1927 – Vin Scully, American sportscaster and game show host (d. 2022)

1940 – Chuck Mangione, American horn player and composer

1976 – Chadwick Boseman, American actor and playwright (d. 2020)

1988 – Russell Wilson, American football player


Holiday Spotlight.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

  The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is a beloved annual tradition in New York City, marking the official start of the holiday season. This event, steeped in history and spectacle, has been a staple of New York's festive calendar since 1933.

 The tradition unofficially began in 1931 when workers constructing Rockefeller Center pooled their money to buy a 20-foot balsam fir tree during the Great Depression. They decorated it with handmade garlands, a gesture of hope and celebration amid challenging times. This humble beginning captured the public's imagination, and two years later, in 1933, Rockefeller Center decided to make it an annual celebration.

 A massive tree, typically a Norway Spruce, is selected and brought to the Rockefeller Center each year. The tree ranges from 69 to 100 feet tall and has thousands of lights and decorations. The lighting ceremony is a grand event featuring live performances and is attended by thousands of people, with millions more watching the broadcast on television.

 Over the years, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting has become an iconic symbol of the holiday season in New York City, known for its festive spirit and the joy it brings to people worldwide. It signifies the start of Christmas in the city and a moment of communal joy and celebration, transcending cultural and geographic boundaries.

 

Other Include

Catterntide

Chocolates Day

Customer is Wrong Day

Electronic Greetings Day

National Lemon Creme Pie Day

National Package Protection Day

Square Dancing Day

Throw Out Your Leftovers Day

Women Wednesday 

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