Did you know that on this day in 1431, during Hundred Years’ War in Rouen, France, 19-year-old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal. Because of this the Catholic Church remember this day as the celebration of Saint Joan of Arc? Or that it was on this day in 1588 the last ship of the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon heading for the English Channel?
And on this day in 1859 Westminster’s Big Ben rang for the first time in London, in 1911 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first Indianapolis 500 ends with Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp becoming the first winner of the 500-mile auto race, in 1942 during World War II, 1000 British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany, in 1958 the remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and in 1989 during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 the 33-foot high “Goddess of Democracy” statue is unveiled in Tiananmen Square by student demonstrators.
Some birthdays you may want to remember on this day are Peter Carl Fabergé, Russian goldsmith and jeweler (1846-1920), Benny Goodman, American clarinetist and bandleader (1909-1986), Marie Fredriksson, Swedish singer and songwriter (Roxette) (1958) and Steven Gerrard, English footballer (1980).
Need a reason to raise a glass of bubbly on this day? Why not help celebrate Indian Arrival Day (Trinidad and Tobago), Canary Islands Day (Canary Islands) or Lod Massacre Remembrance Day (Puerto Rico)?
For more information about historic events on this day, please go here.
A Glass of Bubbly 