By August 2nd, we all tend to start focusing on everything we need to do before summer ends! After all, we are officially in its last month – so kick back, have a nice cold drink, and learn more about what makes August 2nd so special. There are plenty of historical titbits, celebrity birthdays, and star sign facts to mull over, and we have them all here.
On this day
1We all fell down the rabbit hole!
On this day in 1865, Lewis Carroll published Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for the first time! The story went on to become an instant classic and has been adapted in theaters and on-screen multiple times.
2Hitler got a promotion.
In 1934, today was the date that Adolf Hitler became the commander-in-chief of the German armed forces. As we know all too well, he did not use that power for good! He finally lost his power over the military in 1945 upon his suicide.
3General de Gaulle received a death sentence that never came to fruition.
In 1940, French General Charles de Gaulle was sentenced to death by Clermont-Ferrand! However, he was never killed and in fact, served his country until his death in 1970.
4316 people were saved from a disaster in the Philippines.
In 1945, having spent three and a half days at sea, suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration, hunger, and even shark attacks in the Philippine Sea, the survivors of the USS Indianapolis were spotted by a pilot on a routine sector search. Thanks to the pilot, Wilbur “Chuck” Gwynn, 316 people were saved.
5We saw white giraffes for the first time!
As bizarre as it sounds, we’re still discovering new animals all over the world – and on this date back in 2017, the world got a glimpse of the rare white giraffe, thanks to footage captured by Kenya’s Hirola Conservation Program.
Special Days Falling on August 2nd
We promised you a special day, and we believe that these incredible international holidays just might help with that! Here are some of the most important things for you to honor today, if you’re celebrating.
Republic Day in North Macedonia
Every year in North Macedonia, August 2nd is a very important date as it celebrates This national holiday honors the Ilinden Uprising and the very first assembly of the ASNOM during World War II. And it also celebrates the festival of Ilinden!
Dinosaurs Day
Dinosaurs are some of the most fascinating creatures to have ever walked the Earth – and we’ve never even met them! Today’s a celebration of all the research that goes into unearthing the ancient secrets of the dinosaurs – as we get closer to understanding how such huge beasts went extinct. The sad part is, without the dinosaurs’ extinction, we would probably never have existed as a species!
National Coloring Book Day
Coloring books might seem like kids’ stuff to many people, but this US holiday encourages people all over the country to unwind a little with some crayons and a picture book or two. Concentrating on coloring in pictures in your downtime can be a great way to relax from the stresses of the day – if you’ve never tried an adult coloring book of your own, give one a try today!
This month in history
Nelson Mandela was arrested. In August 1962, Mandela was arrested by South African police and sentenced to a prison sentence of five years. He later faced a sentence of life in prison – and after decades behind bars, he went on to become the first democratically-elected President of South Africa!
Famous Birthdays on August 2nd
- Constantine I, king of Greece, born 1868
- Peter O’Toole, Irish actor, born 1932
- Susie O’Neill, Australian swimmer, born 1973
- Ivica Banović, Croatian footballer, born 1980
- Kevin Smith, American director, born 1970
If you were born on August 2nd…
…you’re a Leo! You are a strong, confident, and protective person, just as the mighty lion is! You also have your vulnerable side, but it takes a long time for you to trust anyone enough to show it. But, once you let people in, you are fiercely protective of those lucky enough to have gained your trust. You’re flamboyant and love the finer things in life – and we have more details over at our Leo facts page.
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