Yellow Pig Day
Yellow Pig Day is celebrated annually on July 17th, primarily by mathematicians and mathematics enthusiasts. The day honors the unique concept of the “yellow pig,” which is associated with the number 17, and serves as a fun way to engage with and celebrate mathematical ideas and creativity.
Lottery Day
National Lottery Day is an opportunity to celebrate the fun and excitement of lotteries while recognizing their contributions to society. Whether you enjoy playing the lottery or simply want to learn more about its impact, July 17th is a day to appreciate the positive aspects of lotteries and promote responsible participation.
From pivotal moments in global conflicts to the opening of Disneyland, July 17th reflects a diverse array of impactful occurrences and contributions by notable individuals.
Key Historical Events
1918: Execution of the Romanovs
Event: The Execution of the Russian Imperial Family
Significance: Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their five children were executed by Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, marking a significant moment in the Russian Revolution and the end of the Romanov dynasty.
1945: Potsdam Conference Begins
Event: Start of the Potsdam Conference
Significance: The Allied leaders—Harry S. Truman (USA), Winston Churchill (UK, later replaced by Clement Attlee), and Joseph Stalin (USSR)—met in Potsdam, Germany, to negotiate terms for the end of World War II and address post-war reconstruction.
1955: Disneyland Opens
Event: Opening of Disneyland
Significance: Disneyland, the iconic theme park created by Walt Disney, opened in Anaheim, California. It became a major cultural and entertainment landmark, influencing the amusement park industry worldwide.
1996: TWA Flight 800 Disaster
Event: TWA Flight 800 Explosion
Significance: TWA Flight 800 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after taking off from New York City, killing all 230 people on board. The accident led to major investigations and changes in aviation safety protocols.
Other Notable Events
1453: Battle of Castillon
Event: End of the Hundred Years’ War
Significance: The Battle of Castillon was fought between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of England. The French victory effectively ended the Hundred Years’ War.
1917: King George V Changes Royal House Name
Event: Change of Royal House Name
Significance: King George V of the United Kingdom issued a proclamation changing the royal house name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor in response to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
1955: Arco, Idaho Becomes First Nuclear-Powered City
Event: First Nuclear-Powered City
Significance: Arco, Idaho, became the first city in the world to be powered by nuclear energy, demonstrating the potential of nuclear power for civilian use.
1984: National Minimum Drinking Age Act Signed
Event: Legislation on Drinking Age
Significance: President Ronald Reagan signed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required states to raise the legal drinking age to 21 or face a reduction in highway funds.
Birthdays
1763: John Jacob Astor
Occupation: American Businessman
Significance: Astor was a prominent fur trader, real estate mogul, and the first multi-millionaire in the United States.
1894: Georges Lemaitre
Occupation: Belgian Priest and Astronomer
Significance: Lemaitre proposed the Big Bang theory, describing the origin of the universe from a single primordial atom.
1917: Phyllis Diller
Occupation: American Comedian and Actress
Significance: Diller was known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, and pioneering role as a female stand-up comedian.
1952: David Hasselhoff
Occupation: American Actor and Singer
Significance: Hasselhoff is best known for his roles in the television series “Knight Rider” and “Baywatch.”
Deaths
1790: Adam Smith
Occupation: Scottish Economist and Philosopher
Significance: Smith is best known for his influential work “The Wealth of Nations,” which laid the foundations for modern economic theory.
1989: Donald Barthelme
Occupation: American Author
Significance: Barthelme was known for his postmodern short stories and novels, contributing significantly to contemporary American literature.
1994: Julian Schwinger
Occupation: American Theoretical Physicist
Significance: Schwinger was a Nobel laureate recognized for his work in quantum electrodynamics.
