EASTER SUNDAY Easter in the western Christian church can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. It is observed on the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon (a fixed spring date set by the church). This Christian holy day celebrates […]

1780s BORN 1783: WASHINGTON IRVING (AUTHOR) 1820s 1829: JAMES CARRINGTON PATENTED A COFFEE MILL 1830s BORN 1837: JOHN BURROUGHS (NATURALIST) 1860s 1860: THE PONY EXPRESS BEGAN POSTAL SERVICE 1880s DIED 1882: JESSE JAMES (OUTLAW) 1882: THE OUTLAW JESSE JAMES WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY ROBERT […]

GOOD FRIDAY Good Friday, also known as Great Friday, Holy Friday, or Sorrowful Friday, is a major Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is a time for Christians to reflect upon his suffering and willing sacrifice to atone for […]

APRIL FOOLS’ DAY The term “All Fools,” was probably meant as a deliberate stab at All Saints (November 1) and All Souls (November 2) Day. Although the origin of playing practical jokes and pranks on this day is hazy, many folklorists believe it may go […]

Every Year US: VIRGIN ISLANDS TRANSFER DAY 1590s BORN 1596: RENE DESCARTES (PHILOSOPHER) 1620s BORN 1621: ANDREW MARVELL (POET) 1730s BORN 1732: FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (COMPOSER) 1770s 1776: ABIGAIL ADAMS WROTE HER HUSBAND, JOHN, AT THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ABOUT THE PROPOSED DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, […]

National Doctors’ Day United States (from Wikipedia Commons) In the United States, National Doctors’ Day is a day on which the service of physicians to the nation is recognized annually. The idea came from Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, and the date […]

BORROWING DAYS The last three days of March have a reputation for being stormy. Scottish folklore proposes that these three days were borrowed from April so that March might extend his power. The Spanish story about the borrowing days is that a shepherd promised March […]

PALM SUNDAY This Christian observance falls on the Sunday before Easter and is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. The beginning of Holy Week, Palm Sunday marks the day when Christ rode into Jerusalem a week before his death […]

PASSOVER BEGINS AT SUNDOWN. In 2021, Passover begins at sundown on Saturday, March 27, and ends at nightfall on Sunday, April 4.Pesach or Passover is an annual weeklong festival commemorating the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and slavery. The holiday, which begins on the […]

Every Year HAWAII: REGATTA DAY 1640s DIED 1649: JOHN WINTHROP (FOUNDER OF MASS. BAY COLONY) 1800s 1804: CONGRESS CREATED THE TERRITORY OF ORLEANS 1820s 1821: NORTH WEST COMPANY MERGED WITH HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY200 Years Ago DIED 1827: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (COMPOSER) 1870s 1872: AN ESTIMATED […]

ANNUNCIATION OR LADY DAY The precession of the equinoxes has moved the astronomical beginning of spring back four days to March 21, but its previous date of March 25 became identified with the Virgin Mary, who was told by the angel Gabriel on that day […]

1600s DIED 1603: QUEEN ELIZABETH I (ENGLISH MONARCH) 1640s 1644: ROGER WILLIAMS GRANTED CHARTER FOR COLONY RHODE ISLAND 1820s BORN 1828: HORACE GRAY (SUPREME COURT JUSTICE) 1830s BORN 1834: JOHN WESLEY POWELL (EXPLORER) 1870s BORN 1874: HARRY HOUDINI (MAGICIAN) 1880s BORN 1886: EDWARD WESTON (PHOTOGRAPHER) […]

Every Year NATIONAL PUPPY DAY WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY 1690s BORN 1699: JOHN BARTRAM (BOTANIST) 1740s 1743: THE FIRST STANDING OVATION WAS RECORDED AT THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF HANDEL’S MESSIAH. KING GEORGE WAS SO INSPIRED (OR RESTLESS) THAT HE JUMPED TO HIS FEET; […]

Every Year WORLD WATER DAY 1620s 1621: MASSASOIT, CHIEFTAIN OF THE WAMPANOAGS, CAME TO PLYMOUTH TO “TREAT OF PEACE” WITH PILGRIMS 1630s 1630: GAMBLING MADE ILLEGAL IN BOSTON 1680s DIED 1687: JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY (COMPOSER) 1760s 1765: STAMP ACT PASSED BY THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT, REQUIRING AMERICAN […]

Every Year INDEPENDENCE DAY (NAMIBIA) INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION 1610s DIED 1617: POCAHONTAS (AKA REBECCA ROLFE, FUNERAL OCCURRED ON THIS DATE) 1680s BORN 1685: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (COMPOSER; OLD STYLE DATE) 1790s 1790: THOMAS JEFFERSON REPORTED TO PRESIDENT WASHINGTON IN NY […]

VERNAL EQUINOX In 2021, the Vernal Equinox falls on Saturday, March 20, at 5:37 A.M. EDT. To learn everything about the March equinox, go to Almanac.com/spring The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” The vernal, or spring, equinox is the […]

Every Year CALIFORNIA: SWALLOW DAY ST. JOSEPH’S DAY 721 B.C. FIRST LUNAR ECLIPSE RECORDED IN HISTORY OBSERVED BY THE BABYLONIANS (ACCORDING TO PTOLEMY) 1810s BORN 1813: DAVID LIVINGSTONE (EXPLORER) 1820s BORN 1821: RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (EXPLORER, SCHOLAR) 1830s 1831: $245,000 STOLEN FROM CITY BANK OF […]

1760s 1766: BRITISH PARLIAMENT REPEALED THE STAMP ACT 1780s BORN 1782: JOHN C. CALHOUN (7TH U.S. VICE PRESIDENT) 1830s BORN 1837: GROVER CLEVELAND (22ND AND 24TH U.S. PRESIDENT) 1840s BORN 1844: NIKOLAY RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (COMPOSER) 1850s BORN 1858: RUDOLF DIESEL (INVENTOR) 1860s 1865: CONGRESS OF THE […]

ST. PATRICK’S DAY St. Patrick was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.Long before the shamrock became associated with St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), the four-leaf clover was regarded by ancient Celts as a charm against […]