Events For 15 February 2011

Holidays/ Celebrations

By: sparkybates 14-Feb-2011

Introduction:

Tuesday, February 15th is the 46th day of 2011. There are 319 days remaining until the end of the year (312 days until Christmas). If February 15th is your birthday, your zodiac sign is Aquarius.

Susan B. Anthony Day

Susan Brownell Anthony is probably the most famous of the women that led the women's suffrage movement in the United States. Although she died 14 years before passage of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, she was honored as the first real-life American woman to be depicted on a U.S. coin. The Susan B. Anthony dollar was minted for four years: 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1999. As she was born on February 15, 1820, the anniversary of her birth, each year, has been designated as an occasion to remember the early women's rights advocates and, especially, their hard fought struggle that won American women the right to vote.

Remember the Maine Day

In January, 1898, the U.S. battleship USS Maine, under the command of Captain Charles Sigsbee, was sent to Havana, Cuba to protect American interests during the long-standing revolt of the Cubans against the Spanish government. On February 15, 1898, the ship's forward gunpowder magazines exploded, sinking the ship and killing nearly three quarters of its crew (260 men were lost). Although there is still uncertainty of the cause of the explosion, the public opinion of that day was that Spain was responsible. "Remember the Maine" became the war cry, and the United States formally declared war against Spain on April 25, 1898.

Birthday of Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad is considered to be the last Prophet of God and the last messenger of God by the Muslims. Sunni Muslims celebrate his birth on 12 Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of Muslim calendar. Shia Muslims celebrate this 5 days later (the 17th day of this same month).

Apparently, in the Muslim world, however, there is a difference of opinion as to whether this day should be considered a time of celebration, as the Prophet, his Companions and the early followers never celebrated on this day. Those in favor of its celebration, however, see it as a time to read the Qur'an, and remember the life, teachings, and example of the Prophet Muhammad.

Anniversary of the Adoption of Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

Canada's Maple Leaf flag, is probably one of the most well known and recognizable flags in the world today. Many, however, may be surprised to learn that it did not become Canada's national flag until February 15, 1965. February 15th, then, represents the anniversary of the date that the distinctive Maple Leaf flag was adopted as Canada's first national flag to replace the Canadian Red Ensign union flag that had been used earlier.

Birthdays of Note

Galileo Galilei (physicist, astronomer) - 1564 (would have been 447 years old)

Cyrus H. Mccormick (inventor of the reaper) - 1809 (would have been 202 years old)

Ernest Shackleton (Antarctic explorer) - 1874 (would have been 137 years old)

Jayne Seymour (actress) - 1951 (60 years old)

Matt Groening ("The Simpsons" cartoonist) - 1954 (57 years old)

Darrell Green (football player) - 1960 (51 years old)

Jaromir Jagr (hockey player) - 1972 (39 years old)

Amber Riley (actress) - 1986 (25 years old)

Give this list a high five!

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pamperedpen 1/15/2012
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Great list! H5
Snakesmom 2/14/2011
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Back for my daily dose of knowledge! I love these! :) Thanks for writing what is on tap for the February 15th 2011!