On This Day June 23rd

  OTD

June 23rd is the one-hundred-seventy-forth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 191 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

1532 – Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France sign the "Treaty of Closer Amity With France" (also known as the Pommeraye treaty), pledging mutual aid against Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

1611 – The mutinous crew of Henry Hudson's fourth voyage sets Henry, his son, and seven loyal crew members adrift in an open boat in what is now Hudson Bay; they are never heard from again.

1780 – American Revolution: Battle of Springfield fought in and around Springfield, New Jersey

1810 – John Jacob Astor forms the Pacific Fur Company.

1860 – The United States Congress established the Government Printing Office.

1868 – Christopher Latham Sholes received a patent for an invention he called the "Typewriter."

1894—The International Olympic Committee was founded at the Sorbonne in Paris at the initiative of Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

1917 – In a game against the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore retires 26 batters in a row after replacing Babe Ruth, who had been ejected for punching the umpire.

1938 – The Civil Aeronautics Act was signed into law, forming the Civil Aeronautics Authority in the United States.

1960 – The United States Food and Drug Administration declares Enovid to be the first officially approved combined oral contraceptive pill in the world.

2013 – Nik Wallenda became the first man to successfully cross the Grand Canyon on a tightrope.

2016 – The United Kingdom votes in a referendum to leave the European Union by 52% to 48%.

2018 – Twelve boys and an assistant coach from a soccer team in Thailand are trapped in a flooding cave, leading to an 18-day rescue operation.

 

Birthdays

47 BC – Caesarion, Egyptian king (d. 30 BC)

1763 – Joséphine de Beauharnais, French wife of Napoleon I (d. 1814)

1843 – Paul Heinrich von Groth, German scientist (d. 1927)

1879 – Huda Sha'arawi, Egyptian feminist and journalist (d. 1947)

1906 – Tribhuvan of Nepal (d. 1955)

1912 – Alan Turing, English mathematician and computer scientist (d. 1954)

1925 – Art Modell, American businessman (d. 2012)

1940 – Wilma Rudolph, American runner (d. 1994)

1955 – Glenn Danzig, American singer-songwriter and producer

1980 – Melissa Rauch, American actress

 

Highlighted Holiday

PINK FLAMINGO DAY

Pink Flamingo Day is observed annually in the United States on June 23. Why celebrate the occasion? It’s a fun way to appreciate the pink flamingos used as garden decor. They are a staple icon in pop culture and are popular among working-class homeowners. The pink flamingo was designed in 1957 by Don Featherstone from photos in “National Geographic.” It was one of his first projects at Union Products in Leominster, Massachusetts. He was a sculptor fresh out of art school and hired by the company to create 3D plastic lawn and garden ornaments. He named the first pink flamingo Diego, and his design won him the Ig Nobel Prize for Art in 1996, a satirical award that honors achievements that make people laugh and then think. He died at 79, only a few hours before Pink Flamingo Day.

The pink flamingo once considered a symbol of bad taste, has undergone a significant transformation in its symbolism over the years. In 1972, a director called John Waters released the movie entitled “Pink Flamingos.” It became infamous for its outrageousness, featuring a drag queen and carrying the tagline “An exercise in poor taste.” The pink flamingo in the movie symbolizes a rebellion against societal norms and a celebration of individuality. By 1980, avant-garde galleries seized on the concept and started to display flamingo-themed installations. Baby boomers could be seen carrying pink flamingos across Europe in their backpacks. They also kayaked with them through the wilderness, further redefining the pink flamingo's symbolism.

While the plastic pink flamingo gained popularity in the 1990s as a unique housewarming gift, its significance extends far beyond its decorative use. In all its forms, the pink flamingo holds a unique place in popular culture, symbolizing humor, boundary-crossing, and individuality. It is not just a cultural icon for a specific group but a versatile and relatable symbol that resonates with those who dare to be different and those who appreciate a good laugh, making it a celebration for everyone.

 

Holidays And Observance

America's Kids Day

International Widow's Day

Let It Go Day

National Hydration Day

National Pecan Sandies Day

National Pink Day

Orthodox Pentecost

Pink Flamingo Day

Public Service Day

Runner's Selfie Day

SAT Math Day

Typewriting Day

United Nations Public Service Day

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday

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