On this day, January 26
January 26th 2009 11:45
Dear world,
Today, January 26, is the national day of India and Australia. It is also, in 2009, the Lunar New Year. Welcome to the Year of the Ox.
In India, January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day, the day in 1950 when India adopted the new constitution making it a democratic republic. It comes 10 days after another national day, Independence Day, marking the formal independence from Britain in 1947. They don't have a national day to mark the partition of India and Pakistan around that time. Too many unhappy memories.
In Australia, the day marks the arrival on January 26, 1788, of the first European settlers, led by Captain Arthur Phillip. It is a national holiday and everyone celebrates by going to the beach and drinking beer. Except a small group of Australians who arrived in the country about 10,000 years earlier.
On this day in 1340, King Edward III of England was declared King of France. This started the Hundred Years' War, a tug of war between the royal houses of Valois and Plantagenet for the French throne.
On this day in 1500, Vicente Yáńez Pinzón became the first European to set foot in Brazil. This is not something Brazilians tend to celebrate today.
January 26 is important in the United States as it marks the day in 1784 that Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter saying how unhappy he was at the decision to make the eagle the national symbol. Jefferson's firm preference was for the turkey.
January 26 is also important in Hong Kong because on this day in 1841 that it was formally occupied by the United Kingdom. China later formally ceded Hong Kong in perpetuity. In 1997, the Brits gave it back. In perpetuity.
On this day in 1962, the US launched Ranger 3 to land scientific instruments on the moon. Unfortunately, Ranger missed its target by more than 22,000 miles.
On this day in 1998, President Bill Clinton went on national television and denied having had sex with Monica Lewinsky who was a ... oh, it's a long story.
On this day in 2004, people in very senior positions in the White House said that claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction may have proven less accurate than anticipated.
On this day in 2008, Barack Obama routed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the South Carolina primary.
Today, January 26, is the national day of India and Australia. It is also, in 2009, the Lunar New Year. Welcome to the Year of the Ox.
In India, January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day, the day in 1950 when India adopted the new constitution making it a democratic republic. It comes 10 days after another national day, Independence Day, marking the formal independence from Britain in 1947. They don't have a national day to mark the partition of India and Pakistan around that time. Too many unhappy memories.
In Australia, the day marks the arrival on January 26, 1788, of the first European settlers, led by Captain Arthur Phillip. It is a national holiday and everyone celebrates by going to the beach and drinking beer. Except a small group of Australians who arrived in the country about 10,000 years earlier.
On this day in 1340, King Edward III of England was declared King of France. This started the Hundred Years' War, a tug of war between the royal houses of Valois and Plantagenet for the French throne.
On this day in 1500, Vicente Yáńez Pinzón became the first European to set foot in Brazil. This is not something Brazilians tend to celebrate today.
January 26 is important in the United States as it marks the day in 1784 that Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter saying how unhappy he was at the decision to make the eagle the national symbol. Jefferson's firm preference was for the turkey.
January 26 is also important in Hong Kong because on this day in 1841 that it was formally occupied by the United Kingdom. China later formally ceded Hong Kong in perpetuity. In 1997, the Brits gave it back. In perpetuity.
On this day in 1962, the US launched Ranger 3 to land scientific instruments on the moon. Unfortunately, Ranger missed its target by more than 22,000 miles.
On this day in 1998, President Bill Clinton went on national television and denied having had sex with Monica Lewinsky who was a ... oh, it's a long story.
On this day in 2004, people in very senior positions in the White House said that claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction may have proven less accurate than anticipated.
On this day in 2008, Barack Obama routed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the South Carolina primary.
| 45 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
A turkey as a national symbol? I don't think so.
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
This doesn't explain why Franklin was for the turkey.