On This Day August 1st

  OTD

August 1st is the two-hundredth-eleventh day of the year, and there are 152 days remaining until the end of the year.

 

Events

30 BC – Octavian (later known as Augustus) enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Republic.

1620 – Speedwell leaves Delfshaven to bring pilgrims to America by way of England.

1774 – British scientist Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen gas, corroborating the prior discovery of this element by German-Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele.

1834—The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 abolished slavery in the British Empire. However, it remained legal in the possession of the East India Company until the passage of the Indian Slavery Act of 1843.

1893 – Henry Perky patents shredded wheat.

1907 – The start of the first Scout camp on Brown Sea Island, the origin of the worldwide Scouting movement.

1965—Frank Herbert's novel Dune was published for the first time. In 2003, it was named the world's best-selling science fiction novel.

1981 – MTV began broadcasting in the United States and airing its first video, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

 

Birthdays

1770 – William Clark, American soldier, explorer, and politician, 4th Governor of Missouri Territory (d. 1838)

1809 – William B. Travis, American colonel and lawyer (d. 1836)

1819 – Herman Melville, American novelist, short story writer, and poet (d. 1891)

1936 – Yves Saint Laurent, Algerian-French fashion designer, co-founded Yves Saint Laurent (d. 2008)

1942 – Jerry Garcia, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1995)

1959 – Joe Elliott, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

1960 – Chuck D, American rapper and songwriter

 

Highlighted Holiday

The Festival of Lughnasa

The term "Lughnasadh" comes from the Irish god "Lugh" and "nasal," which means "assembly." In Irish mythology, Lugh created Lughnasadh as a funeral feast and athletic competition to honor his mother, "Tailtiu," who died after clearing Ireland's plains for farming. Lugh, a major mythical Irish god, is often depicted as a warrior, king, master craftsman, and savior.

"The Festival of Lughnasa," written in 1962 by Máire MacNeill, provides a detailed account of Lughnasadh folklore in ancient times. It focuses on the struggle for the harvest between Lugh and Crom Dubh, another mythical god who hoards the grain that Lugh seizes for humanity. This battle is often portrayed as a competition for "Eithne," symbolizing the grain. Additionally, Lugh battles and defeats another figure representing blight. "Óenach Tailten" or "Aonach Tailteann" was a ceremony held during Lughnasadh to honor Tailtiu, featuring sporting contests akin to the ancient Olympic Games, music, storytelling, law proclamations, horse riding, trading, and trial marriages.

Today, towns in Ireland still hold Lughnasadh festivals, which include dancing, music, storytelling, and arts and crafts. While many Lughnasadh practices have continued into the modern era, some have been influenced by Christianity. For instance, Reek Sunday, a popular late July pilgrimage where participants climb Croagh Patrick mountain, and the Puck Fair in August held in Killorglin, County Kerry, are linked to ancient Lughnasadh practices. The modern Irish spelling of Lughnasadh is "Lúnasa," also referring to the month of August.

 

Holidays And Observance.

Homemade Pie Day 

International Childfree Day

Lammas Day

Planner Day

Play Ball Day

Respect for Parents

Statehood Day (Colorado)

U.S. Air Force Day

World Wide Web Day

Yorkshire Day

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