Face Mask Day
National Face Mask Day is celebrated annually on August 11th. This day encourages people to wear face masks, both as a fashion statement and to promote skin health. It is a time to highlight the benefits of using face masks, such as: Hydrating and moisturizing the skin, Exfoliating and removing impurities, Protecting the skin from environmental damage, and Enhancing makeup application.
Fufu Day
National Fufu Day is celebrated on August 11th and honors fufu, a popular staple food in many West African countries. Fufu is made from starchy vegetables like yams, plantains, or cassava, which are boiled, pounded, and formed into a smooth, elastic dough. It’s often served with a variety of soups and stews.
Hip Hop Day
Hip Hop Day, celebrated annually on August 11th, honors the birth and cultural impact of hip-hop—a genre that began as a grassroots movement and evolved into a global phenomenon. The date marks the legendary party hosted by DJ Kool Herc and his sister Cindy Campbell in the Bronx in 1973, where Herc introduced his innovative breakbeat DJing technique. This event is widely considered the birth of hip-hop culture.
August 11th has seen a number of significant events throughout history across various fields.
Historical Events:
3114 BC: This date marks the beginning of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, used by several pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya. This calendar is significant in archaeology and the study of Mesoamerican civilizations.
1492: Rodrigo Borgia was elected Pope, taking the name Alexander VI. His papacy was notorious for corruption and nepotism, marking a controversial period in Catholic Church history.
1804: Francis II, the last Holy Roman Emperor, declared himself Emperor of Austria, creating the Austrian Empire. This was a response to Napoleon Bonaparte crowning himself Emperor of France.
1934: The first civilian prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz was known for holding some of America’s most dangerous criminals and for being supposedly “escape-proof.”
1965: The Watts Riots began in Los Angeles, lasting six days. These riots were sparked by an incident of police brutality and highlighted racial tensions and socioeconomic disparities in the United States.
1999: The last total solar eclipse of the 20th century was visible from Europe and Asia. Solar eclipses are significant astronomical events that have historically been important in various cultures and in the development of astronomy.
Births:
Edith Nesbit (1867): An English author and poet who wrote children’s books, including “The Railway Children.” She was a pioneer of modern children’s fantasy literature.
Enid Blyton (1897): A prolific English children’s writer known for series like “The Famous Five” and “Noddy.” Her books have been among the world’s best-sellers since the 1930s.
Steve Wozniak (1950): Co-founder of Apple Computer with Steve Jobs. Wozniak designed the Apple I and Apple II computers in the 1970s, helping launch the personal computer revolution.
Hulk Hogan (1953): Born Terry Gene Bollea, he became one of the most recognizable professional wrestlers, helping to bring wrestling into mainstream popular culture in the 1980s.
Viola Davis (1965): An acclaimed American actress known for her powerful performances in film, television, and theater. She’s won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards.
Chris Hemsworth (1983): An Australian actor best known for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Deaths:
Andrew Carnegie (1919): A Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century. He became one of the richest Americans in history and was also a major philanthropist.
Jackson Pollock (1956): An influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. His style of drip painting was groundbreaking in the history of modern art.
Peter Cushing (1994): An English actor best known for his roles in horror films produced by Hammer Film Productions, as well as his portrayal of Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars.
Robin Williams (2014): A beloved American actor and comedian known for his rapid-fire improvisation and wide range of characters. He starred in numerous classic films and won an Academy Award for his role in “Good Will Hunting.”
V.S. Naipaul (2018): A Trinidad-born British writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001. His works often dealt with the legacy of colonialism and the complexities of the post-colonial world.
