On This Day December 17th

 December 17th is the three-hundred-fifty first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 14 days remaining until the end of the year.



Events

 497 BC – The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome.

1538 – Pope Paul III excommunicated Henry VIII of England.

1777 – American Revolution: France formally recognizes the United States.

1790 – The Aztec calendar stone was discovered at El Zócalo, Mexico City.

1835 – The second Great Fire of New York destroys 53,000 square meters (13 acres) of New York City's Financial District.

1865 – First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.

1892 – The first issue of Vogue is published.

1903 – The Wright brothers made the first controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

1933 – The first NFL Championship Game is played at Wrigley Field in Chicago between the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. The Bears won 23–21.

1943 – All Chinese are again permitted to become citizens of the United States upon the repeal of the Act of 1882 and the introduction of the Magnuson Act.

1957 – The United States successfully launches the first Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

1989 – The Simpsons premieres on television with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire."

2014 – The United States and Cuba re-establish diplomatic relations after severing them in 1961.


  


Birthdays

1797 – Joseph Henry, American physicist and engineer (d. 1878)

1853 – Pierre Paul Émile Roux, French physician and immunologist, co-founded the Pasteur Institute (d. 1933)

1884 – Alison Uttley, English children's book writer (d. 1976)

1894 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (d. 1979)

1900 – Mary Cartwright, English mathematician and academic, one of the first people to analyze a dynamical system with chaos (d. 1998)

1913 – Burt Baskin, an American businessman, co-founded Baskin-Robbins (d. 1967)

1929 – William Safire, American journalist and author (d. 2009)

1930 – Bob Guccione, an American photographer and publisher, founded Penthouse (d. 2010)

1937 – Art Neville, an American singer and keyboard player (d. 2019)

1978 – Chase Utley, American baseball player

1988 – David Rudisha, Kenyan runner



Holiday Highlight


WRIGHT BROTHER'S DAY

Wright Brothers Day commemorates a pivotal event in U.S. aviation history, showcasing humanity’s progress in flight. The Wright brothers, Milton and Susan, two of seven children, developed a lifelong fascination with flight influenced by a toy helicopter received in 1878. Their serious pursuit of aeronautics was ignited by three significant events in 1896, leading them to practice gliding and study German glider Otto Lilienthal’s techniques.

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur achieved their first powered flight, soaring into a 27 mph headwind and covering 120 feet in 12 seconds. They are celebrated as pioneers in motor-operated airplanes, which led to a friendly rivalry between Ohio, where they built their aircraft, and North Carolina, where their first flight occurred.


Holidays And Observance 


Clean Air Day 

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

National Maple Syrup Day 

Pan American Aviation Day

Wright Brothers Da




 

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

Skating Beyond the Ice: The Life and Legacy of Gordon Howe

Image
 Gordon Howe, affectionately known as "Mr. Hockey," is a legendary figure whose impact on the sport is immeasurable. Born on March 31, 1928, in Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada, Howe's journey to becoming one of the greatest hockey players ever is a testament to his talent, work ethic, and determination. His career spanned five decades, from the late 1940s through the early 1980s, during which he set records, won numerous awards, and left an indelible mark on the game. Howe grew up in a modest, working-class family during the Great Depression, a period that taught him the values of hard work and perseverance. These principles would become the cornerstone of his career. From skating on frozen ponds in Saskatchewan to making his professional debut, Howe's journey was fueled by his passion for the game. He joined the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1946 at 18, marking the beginning of an illustrious career. Howe quickly established himself as a formi...
Read more