We’ve made it to the end of March! However, for many of us, spring is only just underway – and we have a whole new month of April adventures to look forward to. Here are some fascinating facts about March 31st, and why it’s a date you might want to mark.
On this day
1US hospital care celebrates a birthday.
On March 31st 1736, the New York City Almshouse, the first-ever public hospital in the US, was opened in Bellevue Hospital. The hospital initially had only six beds, and it was established to provide care for the city’s poor, ill, and homeless.
2Paris’ famous monument first opens.
On March 31st 1889, the Eiffel Tower, an iconic symbol of France, officially opened to the public. The tower, which was creatively designed by Gustave Eiffel, was built as an entrance arch of sorts to the 1889 World’s Fair and stood as the tallest man-made tower in the world for 41 years!
3Can’t stop those dancing feet!
On this day in 1923, the world’s first-ever dance marathon was held in New York City. It was one Alma Cummings who set a staggering record by dancing for 27 hours with six different partners! Dance marathons became a popular form of entertainment during the 1920s and 1930s, with participants competing for cash prizes by dancing continuously for days or weeks at a time!
4Where spandex meets drama!
WrestleMania I was the first annual professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). The event was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 31st 1985 – one of the main events was a tag team match featuring Hulk Hogan and Mr. T against Rowdy Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.
5An hour of your time to save the Earth.
Earth Hour is a global environmental event that encourages people to turn off their lights for one hour to raise wider awareness about climate change. The first Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia on March 31st 2007, and 2.2 million people participated by turning off their lights for one hour. The event has since spread to scores of countries around the world.
Special Days Falling on March 31st
March 31st happens to be a very important day for a variety of reasons – and here are just three of them!
International Transgender Day Of Visibility
First observed in 2014, this holiday is fast becoming more popular globally, raising awareness about transgender rights and celebrating the achievements of the trans and non-binary community. It aims to combat discrimination and promote equality by encouraging individuals to share their stories and support the trans community.
National Tater Day
The potato is America’s favorite vegetable – bar none! This special day honors over 200 different potato varieties and the many ways they can be prepared! The celebration may have originated from the sweet potato trade day in Kentucky in the early 1840s. If you don’t normally, today try eating the skin of potatoes today – as it has 12 times the amount of antioxidants as its flesh!
National Crayon Day
Who can resist a fresh pack of crayons? National Crayon Day is celebrated on March 31st each year, encouraging children and adults to unleash their imagination and have fun with a box of colorful crayons. Crayons have been used by artists for centuries, but it was in 1903 that Edwin Binney and his company Binney & Smith created the Crayola Division, making the brightly colored wax crayons we still love today!
This month in history
Barbie made her debut! It’s March 1959 when Mattel first debuted the blonde bombshell to the world, and the doll line has since become a lifestyle icon all on its own. Spinning off decades’ worth of new toys, accessories, even video games and movies, Barbie is an enduing American force to be reckoned with!
Famous Birthdays on March 31st
- Rene Descartes, French philosopher, born 1596
- Robert Bunsen, German scientist, born 1811
- Jack Johnson, American boxer, born 1878
- Liz Claiborne, American fashion designer, born 1929
- Richard Chamberlain, American actor, born 1935
If you were born on March 31st…
You’re an Aries! You are ruled by Mars, the planet of war. Born in a fire sign, and symbolized by a Ram, Aries are generally stubborn and can be quick-tempered. Often thought to be brusque, they operate quickly because they hate wasting time!
Take a good look over at our fact file on Aries if you’d like to know more!
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