The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day
The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day is celebrated on August 27th each year in honor of Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, an Irish author best known for her popular novels written in the late 19th century under the pen name “The Duchess.” She is particularly famous for coining the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Crab Soup Day
There isn’t a universally recognized Crab Soup Day, but a popular one called National Crab Soup Day is celebrated in the United States on August 27th. In Nicaragua, August 27th marks the annual Crab Soup Festival, an event featuring beauty pageants, parades, and feasts of crab soup to honor the abolition of slavery.
Just Because Day
Just Because Day is an annual observance celebrated on August 27th. It encourages people to perform actions purely out of whim, without needing any explanation, justification, or reason. The day is an invitation to embrace spontaneity and break from the routine of daily life. Just Because Day was created in the late 1950s by Joseph J. Goodwin of Los Gatos, California, as a family holiday. It began when his wife asked him why he gave her a transistor radio, and his response was simply “Just because”. The informal celebration quickly grew into a national, annual observance.
Historical Events on August 27:
Krakatoa Eruption (1883)
One of the most catastrophic volcanic eruptions in recorded history occurred when Krakatoa, an island volcano in Indonesia, erupted on August 27, 1883. The explosion was so powerful that it destroyed most of the island and caused massive tsunamis that devastated coastal regions around the Indian Ocean. The eruption also led to significant global climatic effects, with the ash cloud affecting weather patterns and creating vivid sunsets for years.
First Tarzan Film Released (1918)
The first Tarzan film, “Tarzan of the Apes,” was released on August 27, 1918. The film was based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel and starred Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan. It was the beginning of a long series of Tarzan films, making the character one of the most iconic in popular culture.
United States Passes the Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)
On August 27, 1928, the United States signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris. The treaty was an international agreement that aimed to prevent war by making it illegal as a tool of national policy. Although the pact did not prevent World War II, it was an important step in the development of international law.
First Commercial Jet Flight (1952)
The de Havilland Comet, the world’s first commercial jet airliner, made its first flight on August 27, 1952, from London to Johannesburg. This marked the beginning of the jet age in commercial aviation, revolutionizing air travel by making it faster and more accessible.
Mars Closest Approach to Earth (2003)
On August 27, 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years. The event attracted significant attention from both the scientific community and the public, with many people observing the Red Planet through telescopes and binoculars.
Guinness World Records Established (1955)
The first edition of the “Guinness Book of Records” was published on August 27, 1955. The book was conceived by Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Breweries, as a way to settle pub arguments about records. It quickly became a best-seller and has since evolved into the Guinness World Records, an authority on record-breaking achievements.
First Successful Flight of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (1997)
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, one of the most advanced fighter jets ever developed, had its first successful test flight on August 27, 1997. The F-22 Raptor is known for its stealth capabilities, advanced avionics, and superior performance, making it a key asset in the U.S. Air Force.
