On This Day August 18th

  OTD

August 18th is the two-hundredth-thirtieth day of the year, and there are 135 days remaining until the end of the year.

 

Events

 1492 – The first grammar of the Spanish language (Gramática de la lengua castellana) is presented to Queen Isabella I.

1612 – The trial of the Pendle witches, one of England's most famous witch trials, begins at Lancaster Assizes.

1783 – A giant fireball meteor is seen across Great Britain as it passes over the east coast.

1868 – French astronomer Pierre Janssen discovers helium.

1877 – American astronomer Asaph Hall finds Phobos, one of Mars’s moons.

1917 – A Great Fire in Thessaloniki, Greece, destroys 32% of the city, leaving 70,000 individuals homeless.

1920 – The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing women's suffrage.

1963 – Civil rights movement: James Meredith becomes the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

 

Birthdays

 1692 – Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon (d. 1740)

1750 – Antonio Salieri, Italian composer and conductor (d. 1825)

1774 – Meriwether Lewis, American soldier, explorer, and politician (d. 1809)

1834 – Marshall Field, an American businessman, founded Marshall Field's (d. 1906)

1927 – Rosalynn Carter, 41st First Lady of the United States.

1936 – Robert Redford, American actor, director, and producer.

1952 – Patrick Swayze, American actor and dancer (d. 2009)

1992 – Frances Bean Cobain, American visual artist and model

  

Holiday Spotlight

Serendipity Day

The term 'serendipity' has existed since the mid-1700s, but it wasn't officially recognized until 2010. In general, serendipity refers to making exciting discoveries by chance.

English author Horace Walpole first used the term in 1754 when he described its origin in a letter to his girlfriend. He explained that the word was inspired by the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip." The story follows three banished princes with unexpected revelations while traveling the world.

Serendipity Day encourages people to live their lives more opportunistically and be open to the endless possibilities that life offers. Madeleine Kay says stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to surprising events, fortuitous opportunities, and unexpected schedules. Believing in serendipity, helping strangers, and living in the present moment can allow you to experience serendipity.

 

Holidays And Observance.

 Bad Poetry Day

Birth Control Pills Day

God's Preeminence Day  

Helium Discovery Day

Mail Order Catalog Day

National Badge Ribbon Day

National Fajita Day

National Ice Cream Pie Day

Never Give Up Day

Pinot Noir Day

Serendipity Day

      

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