The first Cricket “Test” match, the longest form of cricket match, was played between Australia and England in Melbourne, on March 15, 1877. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Test_cricket_from_1877_to_1883
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In the Roman calendar the days of the month were not numbered sequentially. Instead, each month had three division days: kalends, nones and ides. Days were numbered from these divisions: e.g., IV Nones or III Ides. The ides occurred on the 15th of the month (or on the 13th in months that had fewer than 31 days). Julius Caesar was assassinated on this day in 44 BC. This system was used in Europe well into the Renaissance. When Shakespeare wrote “Beware the ides of March” in Julius Caesar, his audience knew what he meant.
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Mar 16, 1827. Anniversary of the founding of the first black newspaper in the US, Freedom’s Journal, on Varick Street at New York, NY.
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Mar 16. The American Library Association supports free and open access to government information created at taxpayer expense. On or near the birthday of James Madison (Mar 16), ALA urges libraries and librarians to join in celebrating the public’s “right to know” by sponsoring activities to educate their communities about the importance of promoting and protecting freedom of information. Sponsored by the Freedom Forum and the American Library Association.
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On 16 March 1802, President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation establishing the US Military Academy to train officers for the army. The college is located at West Point, NY, on the site of the oldest continuously occupied military post in America. Women were admitted to West Point in 1976. The academy’s motto is “Duty, Honor, Country.”
A public holiday in Boston and Suffolk County, Massachusetts, celebrates the anniversary of the evacuation from Boston of British troops on 17 March 1776.
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On 17 March 1842, twenty Mormon women formally initiated this organization at Nauvoo, IL, which is now known as the Relief Society and has grown to more than five and a half million members.
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Commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, Bishop Patrick (AD 387– 493?), who, about AD 432, left his home in the Severn Valley, England, and introduced Christianity into Ireland. Feast day in the Roman Catholic Church. A national holiday in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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Mar 18, 1931. The first electric razor was marketed by Schick, Inc.
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On 19 March 2003, at 9:30 PM, EST, two hours past a deadline for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to step down from power, US and British forces began air strikes against his regime. A ground campaign (adding Australian forces) followed quickly, and by Apr 9, Baghdad was under the control of allied forces. Hussein was captured by US forces on Dec 13, 2003. On June 28, 2004, Iraq regained its sovereignty. On Dec 15, 2005, 70 percent of Iraq’s registered voters turned out for parliamentary elections— one of the freest elections on record in the Arab world. Sectarian and terrorist violence prevented the withdrawal of US and other national combat troops until Aug 18, 2010.
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The Feast of Saint Joseph celebrates the patron saint of fathers and carpenters.
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Each year on the Feast of Saint Joseph, these black birds return to Mission San Juan Capistrano in California.
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20 March – 16 April. Various sites in Washington, DC. Celebrating the decades of cherry blossoms in our nation’s capital. In the midst of thousands of beautiful cherry blossom trees— a gift from Tokyo in 1912— festivities include cultural performances by local and international artists, tours, sporting events, art exhibits and other events celebrating spring. Highlights include Family Days and the Opening Ceremony, a spectacular Fireworks Festival and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and Sakura Matsuri— Japanese Street Festival.
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In the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins today with the vernal equinox, at 6:29 AM, EDT. Note that in the Southern Hemisphere today is the beginning of autumn. Sun rises due east and sets due west everywhere on Earth (except near poles), and the daylight length (interval between sunrise and sunset) is virtually the same everywhere today: 12 hours, 8 minutes.
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Mar 21, 1965. More than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, began a four-day march from Selma, AL, to Montgomery, AL, to demand federal protection of voting rights. There were violent attempts by local police, using fire hoses and dogs, to suppress the march. A march two weeks before on Mar 7, 1965, was called “Bloody Sunday” because of the use of nightsticks, chains and electric cattle prods against the marchers by the police.
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Single Parent Day – This relatively new day recognizes the difficulty and sacrifices of being a single parent. Read more at https://www.workingmother.com/5-things-everyone-can-do-to-support-single-parents-on-national-single-parent-day.
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Mar 21, 2006. Jack Dorsey sent the first “tweet”—“ just setting up my twttr”— in the now immensely popular microblogging and social networking platform. Twitter enables users to post 140-character public messages. Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone of Odeo launched Twitter to the public on July 15, 2006.
A global awareness day (officially observed by the United Nations since 2012) raising awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities. Join the cause to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down syndrome.
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World Harmony Day in Australia – This is a day to celebrate diversity and inclusiveness with the message that “Everyone Belongs.” The date was set in 1999 coinciding with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
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On 22 March 1960, the first patent for a laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) granted to Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes.
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National Goof Off Day is a day of relaxation and a time to be oneself; a day for some good-humored fun and some good-natured silliness. Everyone needs one special day each year to goof off.
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The Tuskeegee Airmen
On 22 March 1941, the pioneering and highly decorated WWII African-American aviator unit gained their name during training at the US Army airfield near Tuskegee, AL, and at the Tuskegee Institute. They were activated as the 99th Pursuit Squadron and later formed the 332nd Fighter Group (with the 100th, 301st and 302nd squadrons); 992 black pilots emerged from training to fly P-39, P-40, P-47 and P-51 aircraft in more than 15,000 sorties in North Africa, Sicily and Europe. On escort missions, they were the only unit that never lost a US bomber. They shot down 111 enemy planes and destroyed 273 planes on the ground. Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr— later the US Air Force’s first black general— was their commander. When President Harry Truman integrated the US military, the all-black group was deactivated.
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To celebrate the puppies in our lives and rescue the ones who need a good home. The goal is to have 10,000 puppies adopted across the US on National Puppy Day!
NOTE: National Puppy Day is always March 23 unless it falls on a weekend in which case it is the Friday or Monday closest to March 23.
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National Tamale Day is a day to enjoy flavorful and unique tamales— which date back more than 5,000 years to the Aztecs and Mayans. Tamales can be enjoyed any time of the year, so order a tamale at your favorite local restaurant or have friends over to celebrate with a homemade tamale dinner. Visit the website for recipes, information on tamale festivals and more.
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Near Miss Day – While this day commemorates the day when an asteroid nearly collided with Earth, you might consider other times you or your ancestors missed a tragedy. Read more at https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/fun/near-miss-day.
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