Mermaid Day
Mermaid Day is a playful, imaginative celebration honoring the mythical creatures of the sea — mermaids! It’s typically observed on March 29 each year. This day is about embracing the magic, mystery, and creativity that mermaids represent in folklore, pop culture, and fantasy. Mermaids have appeared in myths from many cultures, from Greek sirens to the African Mami Wata spirits to Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.
Smoke and Mirrors Day
Smoke and Mirrors Day is celebrated on March 29 and focuses on illusion, deception, and the art of trickery — especially in magic and show business. The phrase “smoke and mirrors” originally referred to the way magicians would use literal smoke and mirrors to create illusions, making things seem to appear, disappear, or transform right before the audience’s eyes. Over time, it also came to describe anything that’s meant to distract, deceive, or mislead (especially in politics and media).
Historical Events
1461 — Battle of Towton: The largest and bloodiest battle of the English Wars of the Roses. The Yorkists, under Edward IV, defeated the Lancastrians, securing Edward’s claim to the English throne.
1849 — United Kingdom formally annexes the Punjab: After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Britain annexed the Punjab region, expanding its empire in India.
1974 — The Terracotta Army is discovered: Farmers digging a well near Xi’an, China, stumbled upon one of the most significant archaeological finds — the buried army built to protect the tomb of China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
2004 — Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO: A major expansion of the alliance in the post-Cold War world.
1971 — First U.S. Army Lieutenant convicted of war crimes: Lieutenant William Calley was found guilty for his role in the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War.
Notable Birthdays
Cy Young (1867–1955) — Legendary baseball pitcher; the Cy Young Award is named in his honor.
Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) — American singer and actress known for her work on stage and screen.
Brendan Gleeson (1955– ) — Irish actor known for roles in In Bruges, Harry Potter, and The Banshees of Inisherin.
Lucy Lawless (1968– ) — New Zealand actress best known for playing Xena: Warrior Princess.
Notable Deaths
John Tyler (1862) — 10th President of the United States.
Elizabeth Taylor (2011) — Iconic British-American actress, known for Cleopatra, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and her humanitarian work.
