Puppy Day
National Puppy Day is celebrated every year on March 23rd. It was founded in 2006 by animal behaviorist and author Colleen Paige, who also established National Dog Day and National Cat Day. Promote adoption of puppies from shelters and rescues rather than buying from pet stores or puppy mills. Raise awareness about the horrors of puppy mills and the need for better breeding practices. Celebrate the unconditional love and cuteness puppies bring into people’s lives. Many shelters host adoption events and social media fills with puppy pictures on this day. It’s also a great time to donate to or volunteer with animal welfare organizations.
Chip and Dip Day
National Chip and Dip Day is celebrated on March 23rd each year. It’s a fun and casual food holiday that honors the perfect pairing of chips and dip—two favorites that are perfect for parties, gatherings, or just snacking at home.
Near Miss Day
Near Miss Day is observed on March 23rd each year and commemorates a near disaster that occurred on this day in 1989. On that day, a massive asteroid, named 1998 QB1, came very close to Earth, missing our planet by a mere 500,000 miles. While this may seem like a large distance in space terms, it’s actually a very near miss in astronomical terms. The purpose of Near Miss Day is to raise awareness about the potential dangers of space objects and asteroids and to emphasize the importance of monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs) to prevent potential collisions.
Historical Events
1743 – George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah premiered at the Royal Opera House in London.
1775 – Patrick Henry delivered his iconic “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech at the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond, urging the colony to take up arms against British rule.
1801 – Following the assassination of Tsar Paul I, his son Alexander I ascended to the Russian throne.
1806 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition began its return journey to St. Louis after reaching the Pacific Ocean.
1919 – Benito Mussolini founded the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento in Milan, marking the beginning of the Fascist movement in Italy.
1933 – The German Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, granting Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers and effectively dismantling the Weimar Republic’s democratic framework.
1942 – The U.S. government began the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, forcibly relocating them to camps across the country.
1965 – NASA launched Gemini 3, the first two-person American space mission, with astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young aboard.
1998 – The film Titanic won 11 Academy Awards, tying the record for the most Oscars won by a single film.
2019 – The Syrian Democratic Forces announced the capture of Baghuz, marking the end of the Islamic State’s territorial control in Syria.
Notable Birthdays
1905 – Joan Crawford, American actress and Oscar winner, known for films like Mildred Pierce.
1910 – Akira Kurosawa, influential Japanese film director, noted for classics such as Seven Samurai.
1912 – Wernher von Braun, German-American aerospace engineer and key figure in developing the U.S. space program.
1929 – Roger Bannister, British athlete who became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes.
1953 – Chaka Khan, American singer and songwriter, celebrated for her contributions to funk and R&B music.
1992 – Kyrie Irving, Australian-American professional basketball player and NBA champion.
Notable Deaths
59 AD – Agrippina the Younger, Roman Empress and mother of Emperor Nero, died under circumstances suggesting she was murdered by her son.
1832 – Goethe, German writer and statesman, known for works like Faust, passed away.
1931 – Bhagat Singh, Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter, was executed by the British colonial government.
2011 – Elizabeth Taylor, British-American actress and humanitarian, died at the age of 79.
2015 – Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, passed away at 91.
