Fire Prevention Week runs from 9 October to 15 October to increase the awareness of fire dangers.
Oct 9, 1940. John Winston Lennon, English composer, musicianand member of The Beatles, the sensationally popular group of musical performers who captivated audiences first in England and Germany, and later throughout the world. A fervent activist for peace. Born at Liverpool, England, Lennon was murdered at New York City, Dec 8, 1980.
Leif Erickson Day celebrates the discovery of North America in the year 1000 by the Norse explorer Leif Erickson.
National Work From Home Week celebrates an increasingly popular way of not just earning a living, but making a life.
Image: CC0, courtesy of Pixabay user Pexel
Oct 10, 1971. The 52 episodes of this British series covered the years 1903 30 in the life of a wealthy London family ( Upstairs) and their many servants ( Downstairs). Cast members included Angela Baddeley, Pauline Collins, Gordon Jackson and Jean Marsh. Won a Golden Globe for Best Drama TV Show in 1975 and an Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in 1976. The last episode aired May 1, 1977. In 2010, the series was revived (without the comma in the title) for a few episodes set in 1936 with a new family occupying 165 Eaton Place but with Jean Marsh returning as Rose Buck.
Oct 10. Public holiday in most countries in the Americas and inmost Spanish-speaking countries. Observed under different names (Dia de laRaza or Day of the Race) and on different dates (most often, as in US, on the second Monday in October). Anniversary of Christopher Columbuss arrival, Oct 12, 1492, after a voyage across shoreless Seas, at the Bahamas (probably the island of Guanahani), which he renamed El Salvador and claimed in the name of the Spanish crown.
Oct 10, 1813. Italian composer, born at Le Roncole, Italy. His 26 operas, including Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata and Aida, are among the most popular of all operatic music today. Died at Milan, Italy, Jan 27, 1901.
Oct 10, 1900. Actress Helen Hayes, often called the First Lady of the American Theater, was born at Washington, DC. Hayess greateststage triumph was her role as the long-lived British monarch Queen Victoria in the play Victoria Regina. Her first great success was in Coquette (1927). She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her first major film rolein The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Airport (1971). Helen Hayes died Mar 17, 1993, at Nyack, NY.
In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is observed on the 2nd Monday of each October.
On 10 October 1886, Griswold Lorilard of Tuxedo Park, New York, wore the first tuxedo for men by cutting off the tails of his dinner jacket.
Oct 11. Ada Lovelace Day – An international day celebrating theachievements of women in science, technology, engineering and math with a flagship event held in London and grassroots events around the world. Women in tech and science tend to be less well known than their male counterparts despite their valuable contributions. The aim of Ada Lovelace Day is tocreate new female role models that inspire girls and women alike. Named inhonor of Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (1815 52), who is considered the first computer programmer and was a close friend Charles Babbage, who conceived a general purpose computing machine called the Analytical Engine. Annually, the second Tuesday in October.
Oct 11, 1884. Wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd president of the US, born at New York, NY. Eleanor Roosevelt led an active and independent life and was the first wife of a president to give her own news conference in the White House (1933). Widely known throughout the world, she was affectionately called the first lady of the world. She served as US delegate to the United Nations General Assembly for a number of years before her death at New York, NY, Nov 7, 1962. A prolific writer, she wrote in This Is My Story, No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Oct 11. A project of the Human Rights Campaign since 1988. Every Oct 11, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and their supportive allies celebrate National Coming Out Day, which encourages LGBT individuals to come out and be honest about themselves.Every year, workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events are held all aimed at showing the public that LGBT people are everywhere.
Oct 11, 1975. Originally titled NBCs Saturday Night, this live show features skits, commercial parodies and news satires, with a different guest host and musical guest performing weekly. Its first guest host was comedian George Carlin. Notable cast members have included Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Joe Piscopo, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Joan Cusack, Robert Downey, Jr, Nora Dunn, Jon Lovitz, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Dennis Miller, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Oct 11. Join the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in celebrating Southern foods and drinks! Southern Food Heritage Day is the official day to pull out your cast iron pans and start up the smoker to enjoy your favorite Southern dishes, from cornbread to BBQ, from hoppin john to shrimpand grits.
Oct 11, 1962. The 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church was convened by Pope John XXIII. It met in four annual sessions, concluding Dec 8, 1965. It dealt with the renewal of the Church and introduced sweeping changes, such as the use of the vernacular rather than Latinin the Mass.
Dia De La Raza commemorates the discovery of America and the cultural heritage of Spanish and Indigineous peoples in the New World.
Oct 12. Yom Kippur – Holiest Jewish observance. A day for fasting, repentance and seeking forgiveness. Hebrew calendar date: Tishri 10, 5777. Began at sundown on Oct 11.
Oct 13. King of England, 1042 66, Edward was the son of King Ethelred the Unready. Born at Islip, England, in 1003, he died Jan 5, 1066, at London. On Oct 13, 1163, his remains were transported in a ceremony that was of national interest. Since then Oct 13 has been observed as his principal feast day.
Oct 13. Since 1972 a navywide celebration (for members of the active forces and reserves, as well as retirees and dependents) recognizingthe authorization of the Continental Navy on this date in 1775. The celebration is meant to enhance a greater appreciation of [the] Navy heritage and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.
Oct 13, 1792. The presidential residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, designed by James Hoban, observes its birthday Oct 13. The cornerstone was laid; the first presidential family to occupy the building was that of John Adams, in November 1800. With three stories and more than 100 rooms, the White House is the oldest building at Washington. First described as the presidential palace, it acquired the nameWhite House about 10 years after construction was completed. Burned by British troops in 1814, it was reconstructed, refurbished and reoccupied by 1817.
Oct 14, 1066. Battle of Hastings: The Anglo-Saxon age came to an end with the death of King Harold Godwinson and the defeat of English forces by Norman invaders at Hastings on this day. William, Duke of Normandy, led the daring invasion and was crowned King of England on Dec 25, 1066.
Oct 14. Be Bald and Be Free Day. For those who are bald and whoeither do wear or do not wear a wig or toupee, this is the day to go shiny and be proud.
Oct 14, 1644. William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, born atLondon, England. Penn died July 30, 1718, at Buckinghamshire, England.Presidential Proclamation 5284 of Nov 28, 1984, conferred honorary US citizenship on William Penn and his second wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn. They were the third and fourth persons to receive honorary US citizenship (following Winston Churchill and Raoul Wallenberg).
Oct 15, 1783. Jean Franois Pilatre de Rozier and Franois Laurent, Marquis dArlandes, became the first people to fly when they ascended in a Montgolfier hot-air balloon at Paris, France, less than three months after the first public balloon flight demonstration (June 5, 1783), and only a year after the first experiments with small paper and fabric balloons by the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Jacques, in November 1782. The first manned free flight lasted about 4 minutes and carried the passengers at a height of about 84 feet. On Nov 21, 1783, they soared 3,000 feetover Paris for 25 minutes.
