On This Day - May 14th
May 14th is more than just your average spring day. It’s a day for sharing biscuits, watching old episodes of “Seinfeld,” and even strutting your funky stuff as you dance the “chicken.” Yes, May 14th is a pretty wacky day - and whether or not you’re already celebrating it yourself, here are a few more reasons why you’ll want to mark it on your calendar.
On this day
The theater’s open… still!
The Guinness World Record for the oldest movie theater still operating globally belongs to the State Theater over in Washington, Iowa - and it first opened its doors on this day back in 1897!
So long, smallpox!
Without the pioneering work of one Edward Jenner, we’d still be overrun with smallpox. On May 14th, 1796, the English doctor tried out his smallpox vaccine, derived from cowpox, for the first time. It was a resounding success!
Skylab took to the skies!
The US took its first-ever space station into the stratosphere on this date back in 1973, as their landmark Skylab launched with a full crew until February the following year. It’s regarded as one of the most important steps in domestic space exploration history.
Israel declared its independence.
It was on May 14th, 1948, that Israel announced it would become a state independent of Great Britain, shortly before the Palestinian mandate expired.
Cue the bassline!
“Seinfeld,” one of the most influential US sitcoms of all time, came to a close on May 14th, 1998. Famous for being a show pretty much about nothing, the series is widely cited as one of the better-written comedies of the era. It even got its own randomly-generated AI “reboot” online in 2023±
Special Days Falling on May 14th
Time to celebrate - but what, exactly? Here’s a few curious special days worth marking today.
National Underground America Day
Did you know that there are more than 6,000 people living in underground communities in North America today? May 14th marks a special occasion to celebrate these fantastic subterranean communities - it's well worth reading up on how these fascinating people manage to live from day to day! As it happens, there are plenty of benefits to underground living!
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
If you’ve read any of our date profiles in the past, you’ll know that there’s always an odd food celebration or two! Buttermilk biscuits are delicious Sunday dessert staples that many families across the US enjoy chowing down on after they’ve had their fill of meat and vegetables. Today’s a great day to try making your own and sharing these delicious, flaky treats with your family and friends.
Dance Like a Chicken Day
No, really! Do we have to go into detail on this one? Surely you know how to dance like a chicken! Today is apparently the perfect day to start strutting your stuff and to get clucking. Everyone deserves to cut loose and look a bit silly sometimes - and if you could use a laugh today, time to start getting those wings up!
This page was last modified on August 4, 2024. Suggest an edit
This month in history
Richard Nixon, then-US President, became the very first American leader to make a trip over to Moscow, Russia. Ahead of the Cold War, Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev, then-leader of the USSR, would agree upon nuclear arsenal stalemates. As we all know, the threats of nuclear war have sadly never gone away.
Famous Birthdays on May 14th
If you were born on May 14th…
That would certainly make you a Taurus! As a down-to-Earth bull (according to the Western Zodiac), you’re well-known for your practical attitude, your reliability, and your love of all things luxurious.
That said, some people may find you a little stubborn and headstrong sometimes! A Taurus loves to keep control and doesn’t always cope well with surprises.
Avoid any further surprises, then, and take a look at more about what makes you tick in our Taurus fact file.
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