Bagel Day
National Bagel Day is celebrated on January 15th each year in the United States, recognizing the bagel’s cultural and culinary significance. It’s a day to appreciate this versatile, ring-shaped bread that can be sweet, savory, or anything in between. Bagels have come a long way, evolving into a favorite breakfast and snack food worldwide.
Pothole Day
National Pothole Day is observed annually on January 15th as a way to raise awareness about the damage caused by potholes and to encourage action for their repair. This day highlights the impact of neglected road infrastructure on vehicles, drivers, and communities.
Here are some notable historical events, birthdays, and observances that took place on January 15th throughout history.
Historical Events
1559: Queen Elizabeth I of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey.
1759: The British Museum in London opens to the public, becoming one of the world’s first public national museums.
1870: A political cartoon by Thomas Nast popularizes the Democratic Party’s donkey symbol in Harper’s Weekly.
1889: The Coca-Cola Company is incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia.
1919: The Great Molasses Flood occurs in Boston, Massachusetts, when a storage tank bursts, releasing a wave of molasses that kills 21 people and injures 150.
1943: The Pentagon, the world’s largest office building, is dedicated in Arlington, Virginia.
1967: The first Super Bowl is played, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10.
1970: Muammar Gaddafi is proclaimed Prime Minister of Libya.
1991: The United Nations’ deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait expires, leading to the start of the Gulf War.
Famous Birthdays
1622: Molière, French playwright and actor, known for works like Tartuffe and The Misanthrope.
1929: Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
1941: Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet), American musician and artist.
1947: Andrea Martin, American actress and comedian (SCTV, My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
1951: Charo, Spanish-American singer, actress, and flamenco guitarist.
1979: Drew Brees, American football quarterback.
Notable Deaths
69 CE: Galba, Roman Emperor, assassinated during a coup that marked the Year of the Four Emperors.
1595: Murad III, Ottoman Sultan, known for his long rule and extensive conflicts with Persia and the Habsburgs.
1865: Edward Everett, American politician, diplomat, and orator who delivered a two-hour speech at Gettysburg before Lincoln’s famous address.
1896: Mathew Brady, American photographer best known for his Civil War-era photography.
1919: Rosa Luxemburg, German Marxist theorist and revolutionary, assassinated during the Spartacist uprising in Berlin.
1945: William “Billy” Bishop, Canadian fighter ace from World War I, credited with 72 victories.
1950: Henry H. Arnold, American general, founder of the U.S. Air Force, and only five-star general in Air Force history.
1988: Seán MacBride, Irish politician, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1974), and human rights activist.
2018: Dolores O’Riordan, Irish singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of The Cranberries (Linger, Zombie).
2020: Rocky Johnson, Canadian professional wrestler and father of actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
