MDBCs 29 Apr 2023

Entry posted by sandrewn in Bread Crumbs 636 April 29, 2023

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April 29th 2023 - Holidays and Observances

(click on the day for details)

Christian feast day:
- Catherine of Siena (Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican Church)
- Endelienta
- Hugh of Cluny
- Robert of Molesme
- Torpes of Pisa
- Wilfrid II
- April 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (United Nations)
International Dance Day (UNESCO)
Shōwa Day, traditionally the start of the Golden Week holiday period, which is April 29 and May 3–5. (Japan)

Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)

Jerry Seinfeld’s Birthday

Dale Earnhardt’s Birthday

Fun Observances ( 2 )

Zipper Day

On April 29, celebrate the zipper it because it is Zipper Day.

We all tend to take for granted most things around us. The humble zipper that is holding up your pants, skirt, or dress right now is one of those things.

Swedish-American Invention

This unofficial holiday commemorates the day in 1913 when Swedish-American engineer, Gideon Sundback received the patent for the modern-day zipper.

Before Sundback came up with his tool, there were many versions of this wondrous device, without which, being fashionable today may have just been a bit harder.

World's Fair Debut

One of the first recorded versions of the zipper came in 1851 from Elias Howe - an American inventor who is often credited as a developer of the technology for sewing machines. In the late 19th century, Whitcomb Judson invented a clasp locker which made its debut at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. This invention did not catch on as well as Judson had hoped for but it did earn him the title of the Inventor of the Zipper.

How to Celebrate?

It is such a simple thing, but a zipper makes our lives so much easier. Spend the day contemplating on other similar objects that are simple, but vital to our day to day lives.

Did You Know...

...that Japanese manufacturer YKK Group accounts for 45% of the world's zippers?

~~~~~~~

Astronomy Day

Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

In the spring, the holiday is held on the Saturday closest to the First Quarter Moon between the months of April and May, while in the fall (autumn) it occurs on a Saturday closest to the Quarter Moon between September and October.

Created in 1973

Astronomy Day was created in 1973 by Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. The unofficial holiday is an attempt to raise the interest of the general public in astronomy by giving them easy access to astronomical instruments such as telescopes.

The holiday also seeks to bridge the knowledge gap by giving the public a chance to interact with astronomers and space scientists.

Observe the Sky

On the day, museums, observatories, universities, and astronomy clubs around the world set up easily accessible telescopes in public spaces including schools, parks, and shopping malls to allow people to observe the skies during the day and night. Other events include lectures and conferences, educational outreach, exhibitions, and essay competitions.

An Ancient Science

Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies and non-Earthly phenomena. It deals with objects like the planets, stars, and asteroids as well as events such as eclipses and meteor showers.

Studied since ancient times, the field of astronomy originated and evolved over millennia due to the need for humans to understand the history and science of the Earth and to comprehend the causes of celestial events.

Until very recently, astronomy and astrology were seen as related fields of study. It was only in the 17th century that they separated ways. Today, astrology is seen as a field that deals with spirituality rather than science.

How to Celebrate?

Attend a local Astronomy Day event. Bring family and friends with you and spend some time gazing at the sky through the lenses of a telescope.
Learn more about astronomy and how to study it as an amateur astronomer. You can start here.
If you have children in your life, today is the perfect day to introduce them to the magic of astronomy. Who knows, they may grow up to become the next Carl Sagan or Carolyn Shoemaker!

Did You Know...

...that we can actually see the past? Light from distant stars take a very long time to reach the Earth, so when we look at a star through a telescope we are looking at the light that left the star several hundred, thousands or even million years ago!

***

Teacher: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree but also admitted it. Now, Joey, do you know why his father didn't punish him?

Joey: Because George still had the ax in his hand?

***

‘Where is everybody?" the cowpoke asks.

"They've all gone to see Brown Paper Pete hang," says a bystander.

"Why do they call him that?" the cowboy asks.

"Well, he always wears a brown paper hat, a brown paper shirt, and brown paper trousers."

"Really?" says the cowboy. "And what are they hanging him for?"

"Rustling."

***

Visiting a college campus, the prospective student spots a building called Hemingway Hall. "That's nice," he says, "a building named for Ernest Hemingway."

"Actually," says the tour guide, "it's named for Joshua Hemingway."

"Was he a writer?" the student asks.

"Yes. He wrote a big check."

***

A tour bus stops in Runnymede, England, and the guide says it was here that the Magna Carta was signed.

"When did they sign it?" one passenger asks.

"1215," the guide responds.

"Dang! We missed it by 20 minutes."

***