Grape Popsicle Day
Grape Popsicle Day is celebrated annually on May 27th. This day is dedicated to enjoying grape-flavored popsicles, a favorite treat that brings a refreshing and fruity burst of flavor, especially as the weather begins to warm up.
Julia Pierpont Day
Julia Pierpont Day is celebrated annually on May 28th to honor Julia Pierpont, who is credited with originating the tradition of decorating soldiers’ graves, which eventually led to the establishment of Memorial Day in the United States.
Old Time Player Piano Day
Old-Time Player Piano Day is celebrated on May 27 annually. It is a special holiday observed to show appreciation for the musical instrument, also known as the pianola. A prototype for the instrument was created in 1895 by Edwin Votey. It’s a nostalgic observance that honors the charming, self-playing pianos that were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These instruments used perforated paper rolls to “play themselves,” bringing music into homes, saloons, and dance halls long before radios and record players became common.
May 27th is notable for various historical events, observances, and notable birthdays.
Historical Events
1703: The Tsar of Russia, Peter the Great, founds the city of Saint Petersburg.
1930: The Chrysler Building in New York City, then the tallest man-made structure, opens to the public.
1937: The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, is opened to pedestrian traffic, and a day later it is opened to vehicle traffic.
1941: The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic during World War II.
1967: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy is launched by Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline.
1995: American actor Christopher Reeve is paralyzed from the neck down after falling from his horse in a riding competition.
2006: A massive earthquake strikes central Java, Indonesia, killing over 5,700 people and leaving 200,000 homeless.
Birthdays
1837: Wild Bill Hickok, American frontiersman and lawman (d. 1876).
1911: Vincent Price, American actor known for his distinctive voice and performances in horror films (d. 1993).
1922: Christopher Lee, English actor known for roles in horror films and as Saruman in “The Lord of the Rings” series (d. 2015).
1936: Louis Gossett Jr., American actor, known for his Academy Award-winning role in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
1968: Frank Thomas, American baseball player, known for his time with the Chicago White Sox.
