On This Day February 8th
OTD
February 8th is the Thirty-ninth day of the year in the
Gregorian calendar; 326 days remain until the end of the year.
Events
421 – Constantias III becomes co-emperor of the Western
Roman Empire.
1238 – The Mongols burn the Russian city of Vladimir.
1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots, is executed on suspicion of
having been involved in the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen
Elizabeth I.
1807 – Napoleon defeats the coalition forces of Russian
General Bennigsen and Prussian General L'Estocq at the Battle of Eylau.
1865 – Delaware refused to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution, delaying the criminalization of slavery until the
amendment's national adoption on December 6, 1865.[18][19] Delaware ultimately
ratified the amendment on February 12, 1901, the 92nd anniversary of Abraham
Lincoln's birth.
1879 – Sandford Fleming first proposes the adoption of
Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute.
1904 – Japanese forces launch a surprise attack against
Russian-controlled Port Arthur, marking the start of the Russo-Japanese War.
1910 – William D. Boyce incorporates the Boy Scouts of
America.
1960 – The Hollywood Walk of Fame is established.
1968 – American civil rights movement: An attack on Black
students from South Carolina State University who are protesting racial
segregation leaves three dead and 28 injured in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
1983 – A dust storm hits Melbourne, resulting in the worst
drought on record and severe weather conditions in the city.
Birthdays
412 – Proclus, Greek mathematician and philosopher (d. ~485)
1577 – Robert Burton, English priest, physician, and scholar
(d. 1640)
1807 – Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, English sculptor and
zoologist (d. 1889)
1820 – William Tecumseh Sherman, American general (d. 1891)
1828 – Jules Verne, French author, poet, and playwright (d.
1905)
1883 – Joseph Schumpeter, Czech-American economist and
political scientist (d. 1950)
1899 – Lonnie Johnson, American singer-songwriter and
guitarist (d. 1970)
1921 – Lana Turner, American actress (d. 1995)
1925 – Jack Lemmon, American actor (d. 2001)
1932 – John Williams, American pianist, composer, and
conductor
1953 – Mary Steenburgen, American actress
1961 – Vince Neil, American singer-songwriter and actor
1970 – Stephanie Courtney, American actress and comedian
1987 – Javi García, Spanish footballer
1989 – Julio Jones, an American football player
Holiday Spotlight
Fat Thursday
Though the exact origin of how this holiday was
founded is unknown, the Polish tradition of consuming donuts is very much known
and dates as far back as the 1500s. On the religious side of things, Fat
Thursday is the last hurrah before the fasting period of Lent, wherein devout
Catholics give up many indulgences in the 40 days leading up to Easter.
Traditionally, Catholics will not eat meat or consume alcohol during this
period, as the idea is to give up things that one loves to focus on the meaning
of Easter.
Fat Thursday is known as ‘Tłusty Czwartek’ in Poland, and
for those who are in doubt, the ‘fat’ part of the name refers to the fried,
sugary goodness of the different types of ‘pączki’ (pronounced poonch-key)
consumed by Poles all over the country. The most traditional form of ‘pączki’
is a light, fluffy donut filled with rosehip jam and dusted with powdered
sugar. However, there are many variations now when it comes to the filling.
Essentially, this day serves a dual purpose: it allows Poles to indulge guilt-free
in their favorite confectionery while also carrying a religious meaning. Some
even refer to the day as International Polish Donut Day, and the average Pole
will eat around 2-3 donuts, which translates to about 1050 calories (if you’re
counting, but we’re not)! If consuming so many donuts scares you,
the recommendation is to eat at least one because not eating a donut on this
day means bad luck for the rest of the year, according to Polish tradition.
Another traditional Polish dessert that is extremely popular
today is ‘faworki’, also known as angel wings in some places. ‘Faworki’ are
thin dough ribbons fried until crispy and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Other Include
Boy Scout Anniversary Day
Laugh and Get Rich Day
Molasses Bar Day
National Giving Hearts Day
National Kite Flying Day
Opera Day
Propose Day
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