Card Playing Day
Card Playing Day is celebrated annually on December 28 as a day to enjoy the fun and tradition of playing card games. The day encourages people to gather with friends and family to engage in various card games, whether traditional, modern, or solitaire-style. Card Playing Day is a wonderful reminder of the joy and connection that a simple deck of cards can bring. Shuffle up and deal!
Here’s a look at the historical events, notable births, deaths, and observances associated with December 28:
Historical Events
1612 – Galileo Observes Neptune: Galileo Galilei became the first person to observe Neptune, although he mistakenly cataloged it as a fixed star and did not recognize it as a planet.
1836 – Spain Recognizes Mexico’s Independence: Spain formally recognized Mexico as an independent nation, 15 years after Mexico’s declaration of independence in 1821.
1867 – United States Claims Midway Atoll: The U.S. formally took possession of the Midway Atoll, marking its first annexation of an uninhabited territory in the Pacific.
1895 – First Commercial Movie Screening: The Lumière brothers held the first commercial film screening at the Grand Café in Paris, marking the birth of cinema as an industry.
1973 – Endangered Species Act Signed: U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law, aimed at protecting critically endangered plants, animals, and their habitats.
2014 – AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Crash: AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea en route from Indonesia to Singapore, killing all 162 people on board.
Notable Births
1856 – Woodrow Wilson: The 28th President of the United States (1913–1921), known for his leadership during World War I and for championing the League of Nations.
1882 – Sir Arthur Eddington: British astrophysicist and mathematician who provided key experimental support for Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
1922 – Stan Lee: American comic book writer, editor, and publisher, co-creator of iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men.
1954 – Denzel Washington: Academy Award-winning American actor known for his roles in films like Glory, Training Day, and Malcolm X.
Notable Deaths
1937 – Maurice Ravel: French composer, best known for works like Boléro and Pavane pour une infante défunte.
1947 – Victor Emmanuel III: Former King of Italy (1900–1946), whose reign included World War I, the rise of Mussolini, and World War II.
2004 – Susan Sontag: American writer, philosopher, and activist known for her essays on culture, media, and politics, including On Photography.
2016 – Debbie Reynolds: American actress and singer, known for Singin’ in the Rain and as the mother of actress Carrie Fisher, who passed away a day earlier.
