On This Day March 25th

 OTD

March 25th is the Eighty–fourth Day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 281 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

421 – The Italian city Venice was founded with the dedication of the first church, San Giacomo di Rialto, on the islet of Rialto.

708 – Pope Constantine becomes the 88th pope. He would be the last pope to visit Constantinople until 1967.

1306 – Robert the Bruce becomes King of Scots (Scotland).

1519 – Hernando Cortes, entering the province of Tabasco, defeats Tabascan Indians.

1655 – Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christiaan Huygens.

1807 – The Swansea and Mumbles Railway, then known as the Oystermouth Railway, became the world's first passenger-carrying railway.

1894 – Coxey's Army, the first significant American protest march, departs Massillon, Ohio for Washington, D.C.

1911 – In New York City, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 garment workers.

1949 – More than 92,000 kulaks are suddenly deported from the Baltic states to Siberia.

1957 – United States Customs seized copies of Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl" on obscenity grounds.

1965 – Civil rights activists led by Martin Luther King Jr. complete their 4-day 50-mile (80 km) march from Selma to the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

1988 – The Candle demonstration in Bratislava is the first mass demonstration of the 1980s against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

 

Birthdays

1538 – Christopher Clavius, German mathematician and astronomer (d. 1612)

1745 – John Barry, American naval officer and father of the American Navy (d. 1803)

1867 – Gutzon Borglum, American sculptor, designed Mount Rushmore (d. 1941)

1904 – Pete Johnson, American boogie-woogie and jazz pianist (d. 1967)

1918 – Howard Cosell, American soldier, journalist, and author (d. 1995)

1928 – Jim Lovell, American captain, pilot, and astronaut

1926 – Gene Shalit, American journalist and critic

1942 – Aretha Franklin, American singer-songwriter and pianist (d. 2018)

1966 – Jeff Healey, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2008)

1982 – Danica Patrick, American race car drive

.

Holidays And Observance

Holi

In Hinduism, Holi celebrates life, spring, and overcoming the odds. It has multiple origin stories, with one associating it with agriculture, deeming it a non-religious springtime festival honoring rebirth, fertility, and new life. The water thrown around symbolizes the fertile growth of crops, while the colored paint represents the grain tossed around in traditional festivities.

The more popular origin story stems from a myth with multiple variations. One version features King Hiranyakashipu of Multan, whom the gods made invincible, abusing his authority. He was convinced he was a god and demanded that his people worship him in his name. However, his son, Prince Prahlada, opposed him, believing his father was human. Of course, such blatant disrespect could not go unpunished. The king devised a plan involving his sister, Holika, who also had powers. Because she could withstand fire without harm, he built a massive fire and ordered Prince Prahlada to sit on his aunt’s lap, expecting the boy to meet a fiery end. With no choice but to obey the king, Prince Prahlada went into the fire but miraculously escaped unhurt. His aunt, however, disappeared and was never seen again. According to this legend, the colored paint represents Holika’s ashes, and the word ‘Holi’ is said to come from ‘Holika.’

The festival was brought to Guyana in the 19th century by Indian settlers who came as indentured servants or laborers. Their descendants turned the celebration into a uniquely Guyanese one that merges with other local cultural elements. Indian folk songs sound near temples or places of worship, and ‘sweetmeats’ — traditional Indian vegetarian sweets — and revelry are common during Holi and the days leading up to it. Most Guyanese people celebrate by devouring sweetmeats, savoring Indian curry, or dressing in Indian attire.

 

Others Include.

Greek Independence Day: National Day of Celebration of Greek & American Democracy

Holy Monday

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members

International Day of the Unborn Child

International Waffle Day

Maryland Day

Maryland Day Observed

National Cerebral Palsy Day

National Lobster Newberg Day

National Medal of Honor Day

National Pecan Day

Old New Year's Day

Seward's Day

The Annunciation

Tolkien Reading Day

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Exploring the Legacy of Hinrich Lichtenstein: A Journey Through Science and Discovery

Image
  Born under the grey, expansive skies of Hamburg, Germany, on January 23, 1780, Hinrich Lichtenstein was destined to add vibrant strokes of knowledge to the canvas of the natural world. As a young man, his intellectual curiosity was as boundless as the oceans he would later traverse. He pursued medicine with a fervent passion, his studies painting a picture of a mind deeply enamored with the natural sciences.  In 1802, Lichtenstein embarked on a journey that would etch his name in the annals of exploration. Venturing into the heart of southern Africa, he traversed landscapes as diverse as they were magnificent. From the sun-drenched savannas, rich with golden hues, to the verdant, lush greenery of the dense forests, every step was a brushstroke, adding to his masterpiece of discovery.  Amidst these landscapes, Lichtenstein's keen eye detailed a spectrum of flora and fauna previously unknown to science. His notes and collections were like sketches of a world unseen, captu...
Read more

The Montgolfier Brothers and the Birth of Ballooning: A Joyful Journey into the Skies

Image
  Imagine the excitement and wonder of watching a giant, colorful balloon lift off the ground and float gracefully into the sky. This magical moment became a reality thanks to the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne. Their invention of the hot air balloon, or montgolfière, marked the beginning of human flight, filling the world with awe and endless possibilities. Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier were more than just brothers; they were dreamers with their heads in the clouds—quite literally. Born into a family of paper manufacturers in the charming town of Annonay, France, their curiosity knew no bounds. Inspired by the idea that something as simple as heated air could lift objects, they set out to turn this dream into reality. On June 4, 1783, a bright and sunny day, the Montgolfier brothers unveiled their creation to the public. Imagine a giant balloon, around 33 feet tall and 43 feet wide, crafted from paper and silk and painted with intricate pat...
Read more

The Enchantment of the Inaugural Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

  In the heart of New York City, a spectacle unfolded on the bustling streets on a crisp November morning in 1924. It was the first-ever Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, an event that would become a symbolic tradition, enchanting millions for generations to come. The genesis of this grand parade was rooted in the dreams and aspirations of Macy's employees, many of whom were immigrants. They longed to celebrate their new American heritage with a festival reminiscent of the ones in their homelands. This desire, combined with the business acumen of Macy's executives, who sought to promote the holiday season's sales and celebrate the expansion of their flagship store at Herald Square, culminated in the creation of this extraordinary event. On November 27, 1924, the streets of New York were transformed into a corridor of wonder. Starting at 145th Street and Convent Avenue, a vibrant procession made its way to 34th Street and Broadway, covering an impressive six-mile j...
Read more