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by Kelantan » Thu Aug 19 2021 11:06am
19th August 2021
THE TRANSFIGURATION Christian (Eastern Orthodox - Julian calendar)
This festival commemorates the occasion when Jesus went up a mountain with three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, who saw his face change and his clothes become dazzling white. They witnessed him in conversation with Moses and Elijah, and heard a voice saying, ‘This is my own dear Son with whom I am pleased – listen to him’. For many Christians this confirms the divine nature of Jesus.
ASHURA (10th Muharram) Muslim
For Sunni Muslims Ashura is a minor fast observed by the Prophet. Shi‘a Muslims recall a great tragedy that took place in AH 61 (680 CE). The Imam Husayn (son of Ali and Fatimah and therefore grandson of the Prophet) was attacked and killed at Karbala (now in Iraq) along with his family and followers by the troops of the Caliph Yazid.
International Orangutan Day
Orangutan, old man of the forest, an inhabitant of rich tropical forests and endangered victim of the Palm Oil industry. These magnificent creatures have been facing extinction at the hands of deforestation in the name of industry for decades. International Orangutan Day was established to help raise awareness of their plights and aid in protecting them.
Photography Day
The soft click of the camera, a flash of light and a moment in time captured forever. Maybe digitally, maybe on film, the medium is never as important as the memory or moment caught. A group of people, a sunset, or even a fish jumping out of the water, a photograph is a way to feel the emotion and context of that exact moment. Celebrate that, on this picturesque Photography Day! Photography Day is a day whereby we pay tribute to the incredible art form that is photography. There are those personal photos that we all love and cherish, but there are also photos that tell a story. They tell us about significant periods in time or enable us to learn more about the planet. After all, they do say that a picture is worth one-thousand words, right?
Potato Day
Potato chips, hash-browns, baked potatoes, home fries, mashed potatoes, and tater skins are just some of the incredibly delicious things you can make with potatoes. The potato is an unusual little tuber that has played an important role in the history of the world and was, in fact, the primary food crop for an entire nation. Potato Day celebrates this wonderful tuber and all the things you can use it for. What’s your favourite potato treat? Potatoes were first cultivated by man in Southern Peru and the Northwest regions of Bolivia sometime between 5000 and 8000 BC. From that point forward it has spread all over the globe to become one of the primary staple crops of many cultures. Potatoes are a favourite part of many cuisines, with millions of different forms of preparation to be found. Potatoes are even used to make bread, rolls, and pancakes, and as such can be found in every meal of the day. For a time, Ireland was so reliant on the potato as a food crop that a potato plague managed to starve the entire country. Make no mistake, there was plenty of food being grown in Ireland at the time, 5 ships full a day were being sailed out of the country, but the people of Ireland were being drained dry by the English who ruled them, that potatoes and cabbage were all they had to live on. The Russians, on the other hand, discovered quite a different use for the potato. Are you a fan of vodka? Good news! Good Russian Vodka is actually a distillation of potato, and the name vodka means “Little Water”, a clear indicator of its importance in Russia. Today, the humble potato is the fifth most crop worldwide, coming in after wheat, corn, rice, and sugar cane, as measured by total calories cultivated. Interestingly, the potato was something of a curiosity in Europe at the start of the 18th century. Merchants had only just begun bringing it from South America and experimenting with it as a type of food. Most people, including those living in Ireland, had never seen anything like it before. The humble potato, however, soon took off in popularity. The way the plant grows makes it inherently more productive than grains – the crop that historically provided the vast bulk of the average person’s calories. Grass crops tend to become tall and fall over when the berries on top get too heavy. Potatoes, though carry on growing, regardless of the size and shape of the plant on top. So long as the plant collects sun rays, it has sufficient energy to produce the starches that make up the potato tuber’s internal structure. It is no wonder, therefore, that Potato Day has become a sensation. The humble spud has been providing populations with a stable source of calories for centuries. It started its journey in South America and then made its way to Europe, following the discovery of the New World. The potato is so nutritious that people can live off it for months at a time without having to supplement their diet with any other foods. What’s more, it is cheap and tasty, forming a vital constituent of many of the world’s favourite foods!
International Bow Day
It’s true! Whether made of silk or cotton, plain or bedecked with rhinestones and glitter, there’s one thing you can know for certain. No matter what it is, putting a bow on it will make it better. International Bow Day encourages us all to wear a bow and share their magnificence with the world at large.
World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day on August 19 recognises humanitarian aid workers all over the world. Established by the UN in 2009, this day commemorates the anniversary of the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Iraq. 22 people lost their lives, including the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights. Humanitarian aid workers provide life-saving assistance to suffering people all over the world. Those workers who live in conflict zones or in areas devastated by natural disasters are especially vulnerable.
A Selection of Birthdays
1590 Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland, English soldier, born in Stratford-atte-Bow, Middlesex (d. 1649)
1596 Elizabeth Stuart, Electress of the Palatinate, "The Winter Queen" of Bohemia and daughter of James VI and I of England and Scotland, born at Dunfermline Palace, Fife (d. 1662)
1631 John Dryden, English poet (1st Poet Laureate 1668-1700), born in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire (d. 1700) [OS=Aug 9]
1646 John Flamsteed, Astronomer & 1st Astronomer Royal, born Denby, Derbyshire (d. 1719)
1686 Eustace Budgell, English writer (The Spectator, writing 37 numbers signed X), born in Saint Thomas, Exeter (d. 1737)
1689 Samuel Richardson, English novelist (Pamela), born in Mackworth, Derbyshire (d. 1761)
1711 Edward Boscawen, British admiral in the Royal Navy, born in Tregothnan, Cornwall (d. 1761)
1790 Edward John Dent, British clockmaker to Queen Victoria and commissioned to make Big Ben, London (completed after his death by his son Frederick Dent), born in London (d. 1853)
1808 James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and inventor of the steam hammer, born in Edinburgh (d. 1890)
1860 John Kane, Scottish-American primitivist painter (Self-Portrait), born in West Calder (d. 1934)
1871 Orville Wright, American aviator (Wright Brothers), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 1912)
1883 Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, French fashion designer (Chanel), born in Saumur, France (d. 1971)
1889 Arthur Waley, Ssinologist, translator from Chinese & Japanese, b. Tunbridge Wells, Kent (d.1966)
1899 Charlie Hall, English comedic actor (Tit for Tat, A Chump at Oxford), born Birmingham (d. 1959)
1900 Gilbert Ryle, British philosopher, Born Brighton (d. 1976)
1902 Ogden Nash, American humorous poet (I'm a Stranger Here Myself, Masquerade Party), born in Rye, New York (d. 1971)
1910 Quentin Bell, English art historian (established Charleston Trust), born in London (d. 1996)
1919 Malcolm Forbes, American publisher of Forbes Magazine, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1990)
1922 Douglas MacKenzie Davey, British occupational psychometrist (d. 1994)
1923 Edgar F. Codd, English-American computer scientist who contributed to the theory and practice of database management systems, born in Fortuneswell, Dorset, (d. 2003)
1930 David G. Compton, British sci-fi author (Synthajoy, Radio Plays), born in London
1935 Alan Baker, British Mathematician and winner of the Fields Medal (1970) for his work on transcendental number theory, born in London
1939 [Peter] Ginger Baker, English drummer (Cream), born in London (d. 2019)
1940 Jill St John [Oppenheim], actress (Diamonds are Forever), born in Los Angeles, California
1943 Billy J. Kramer, English rock vocalist (The Dakotas-Bad to Me), born in Liverpool
1945 Ian Gillan, English heavy metal and rock singer (Deep Purple - "Smoke On The Water"; Jesus Christ Superstar), born in London
1946 Bill Clinton, 42nd US President (Democrat, 1993-2001), born in Hope, Arkansas
1947 Dave Dutton, English actor (Coronation Street), born in Atherton, Greater Manchester
1950 Jennie Bond, British journalist (BBC Royal Correspondent), born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire
1951 John Deacon, British rock bassist (Queen - "Another One Bites The Dust"), born in Leicester
1957 Ian Gould, England cricketer and umpire, born in Taplow, Buckinghamshire
1958 Gordon Brand Jnr., Scottish golfer (8 x European Tour wins; Ryder Cup 1987, 89), born in Kirkcaldy, Fife (d. 2019)
1959 Steve Grimmett, British heavy metal singer (Grim Reaper), born in Swindon, Wiltshire
1967 Jason Starkey, occasional drummer and son of Beatle Ringo, born in London
1970 Clare Waight Keller, English fashion designer (first female head of Givenchy), born in Birmingham
1977 Callum Blue, English actor (Dead Like Me, The Tudors), born in London
1980 Paul Parry, Welsh footballer, born in Chepstow, Monmouthshire
1980 Darius Danesh, Scottish pop, opera & swing singer-songwriter and stage actor, born Glasgow,
1983 Mike Conway, British auto racer (FIA World Endurance C'ship 2019-20; British Formula 3 C'ship 2006), born in London
1984 Simon Bird, British comic actor (The Inbetweeners -"Will"; Friday Night Dinner - "Adam"), born in Guildford, Surrey
1987 Richard Stearman, English footballer, born in Wolverhampton
2335 William T. Riker, character on Star Trek Next Generation, born in Valdez, Alaska
On this Day in British History
1274 Edward I is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey after returning from the Ninth Crusade
1399 King Richard II of England surrenders to his cousin Henry
1702 -24] Battle at Santa Marta Venz: English fleet beat French
1796 Spain & France sign anti-British alliance
1812 US warship Constitution defeats British warship Guerriere
1914 German fleet bombs the English coast
1915 British liner "SS Arabic" sunk by German submarine without warning leaving Liverpool for New York; killing 44. Creates diplomatic incident
1919 After nearly 100 years of British control, Afghanistan declares itself independent
1942 -20] Winston Churchill visits Field Marshal Montgomery's headquarter in Burg-al-Arab
1942 World War II: Over 4,000 Canadian and British soldiers killed, wounded or captured raiding Dieppe, France
1944 US general Omar Bradley visits British general Bernard Montgomery
1953 Democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh is overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the United Kingdom (under the name 'Operation Boot') and the United States (under the name TPAJAX Project)
1987 Hungerford Massacre: in England, Michael Ryan kills sixteen people with an assault rifle and then commits suicide
Scotland
1561 Mary Queen of Scots arrives in Leith, Scotland to assume the throne after spending 13 years in France
1745 Jacobite Rising 1745 : Bonnie Prince Charlie, raises his standard at Glenfinnan, Scotland, igniting the second Jacobite rebellion.
Weddings in History
1800 Social reformer Elizabeth Fry née Gurney (20) weds tea dealer Joseph Fry (23) at the Norwich Quaker Meeting House in Norwich
Deaths in History
1284 Alphonso, Earl of Chester, son of Edward I of England (b. 1273)
1646 Alexander Henderson, Scottish theologian Born c.1583 in Guthrie, Fife. His death was an occasion of national mourning in Scotland.
1876 George Smith, English archaeologist and assyriologist (cuneiform script), dies of fever at 36
1957 David Bomberg, English painter, dies at 66
1959 Jacob Epstein, American-English sculptor (Adam, Jacob & the Angel), dies at 78
1959 Claude Grahame-White, English aviation pioneer who was the 1st to make a night flight, dies at 79
1976 Alastair Sim, Scottish actor (Christmas Carol, Green for Danger), dies at 75
1994 Nancy Lancaster, American British decorator (Colefax and Fowler), dies at 96