On This Day September 5th

 OTD

September 5th is the two hundredth-forty-eighth day of the year, and there are 117 days remaining until the end of the year.

 

Event

1622 – A hurricane overruns a Spanish fleet bound from Havana to Cadiz and sinks the ship Atocha. Only five men are rescued, but 260 passengers and 200 million pesos are buried with the Atocha under 50 feet of water.

1666—The Great Fire of London ends. Ten thousand buildings, including Old St Paul's Cathedral, are destroyed, but only six people are known to have died.

1698 – To Westernize his nobility, Tsar Peter I of Russia imposed a tax on beards for all men except the clergy and peasantry.

1774 – First Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia.

1836 – Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas.

1882 – The first United States Labor Day parade was held in New York City.

1887 – A fire at the Theatre Royal, Exeter, kills 186, making it the UK's deadliest-ever building fire.

1905 – Russo-Japanese War: In New Hampshire, United States, the Treaty of Portsmouth, mediated by US President Theodore Roosevelt, ended the war.

1942 – World War II: Japanese high command orders withdrawal at Milne Bay, the first major Japanese defeat in land warfare during the Pacific War.

1957 – Cuban Revolution: Fulgencio Batista bombs the revolt in Cienfuegos.

1970 – Jochen Rindt becomes the only driver to posthumously win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship (in 1970) after being killed in practice for the Italian Grand Prix.

1991—The current international treaty defending Indigenous peoples, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989, comes into force.  

 

 Birthdays

1500 – Maria of Jever, ruler of the Lordship of Jever (d. 1575)

1638 – Louis XIV, king of France (d. 1715)

1667 – Giovanni Girolamo Saccheri, Italian priest, mathematician, and philosopher (d. 1733)

1774 – Caspar David Friedrich, German painter and etcher (d. 1840)

1833 – George Huntington Hartford, American businessman (d. 1917)

1847 – Jesse James, American outlaw (d. 1882)

1874 – Nap Lajoie, American baseball player and manager (d. 1959)

1897 – Arthur Nielsen, American market analyst, founded ACNielsen (d. 1980)

1902 – Darryl F. Zanuck, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1979)

1918 – Fred McCarthy, American cartoonist and monk (d. 2009)

1929 – Bob Newhart, American comedian and actor.

1942 – Werner Herzog, German actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

1947 – Chip Davis, American pianist, songwriter, and producer

1953 – Victor Davis Hanson, American historian and journalist.

1998 – Mac Jones, American football player.

 

 

 Holiday Spotlight

 Onam

Onam is a 10-day festival observed in Hindu culture. It is a harvest festival that welcomes the mythical King Mahabali. Mahabali, a demon, was renowned for his generosity and good heart. His popularity incited jealousy in the Gods, so they asked Lord Vishnu to help them. As Mahabali was a devout worshipper of Lord Vishnu, the latter aided the Gods without initiating a battle with Mahabali.

Lord Vishnu transformed into a Brahmin dwarf named Vamana and headed to Mahabali’s kingdom to request the right over a property measuring ‘three paces.’ Mahabali obliged and fulfilled Vamana’s wish.

The 10 days of Onam are Atham, Chithira, Chodi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradom, and Thiruvonam. Thiruvonam is the most important day of the festival.

Several large events mark the festival. ‘Pookkalam’ is the tradition of designing flowers using colored powder in front of houses. ‘Onakalikal’ refers to all the games played throughout the festival, including ‘Thala Panthu Kali’ with a ball, ‘Ambeyyal’ or archery, and the ‘Vallamkali’ boat race, in which 100 boatmen compete.

Women participate in traditional folk dances, which are among the festival's biggest attractions. The dances and synchronized performances are in honor of King Mahabali and his arrival. The elephant procession is the peak of the festival, with decorated elephants parading and dancing with people at the procession's location.

 

Holidays And Observance.

 Be Late for Something Day

International Day of Charity

Jury Rights Day

National Cheese Pizza Day

National Shrink Day

World Samosa Day