[Fact 1: It Marks the Start of the Global Chocolate Day]
If you’re a lover of all things sweet, then September 12 probably marks a highlight in your calendar. More specifically, it's the kick-off date for the International Chocolate Day. The reason behind it falls on Milton S. Hershey, who was born on this day in 1857, and founded the globally renowned Hershey Chocolate Company. It is a day most chocolate enthusiasts love to celebrate by indulging in their favorite chocolate goodies.
[Fact 2: International Programmers’ Day Also Falls On This Date]
Not to be outdone by the chocolate lovers, tech buffs have their own reasons to rejoice on September 12. Every year on the 256th day, programmers across the globe celebrate International Programmers’ Day. And as it happens, most often, that day is September 12th. This date is symbolic as ‘256’ represents the maximum distinct values that can be represented with an 8-bit byte, which is a cornerstone principle in programming and computing.
[Fact 3: This Date Produced the Largest Primary Rainbow Ever Recorded]
Back on September 12, 1990, Guy de Maupassant set a new record for the largest primary rainbow ever recorded in the history. With an impressive diameter that spanned over 2,800 feet, this rainbow led to a stunning spectacle that could be observed from different parts of the world.
[Fact 4: September 12 Is the Most Common Birthday in the USA]
If you were born in America on September 12, chances are, you share your birthday with a lot of people. According to data collected from American births over the past two decades, September 12 comes out as the most common birthday in the United States. This phenomena can be traced nine months back to the holiday season, where there’s a spike in conceptions.
[Fact 5: Psy’s Hit Song “Gangnam Style” Broke Records On This Day]
Since being released, “Gangnam Style” by Psy has held various titles. On 12th September 2012, the music video broke the Guinness World Record for the most liked video on YouTube. It boasted an impressive 3,301,456 likes, beating out the previous record holder, "Baby" by Justin Bieber.
[Fact 6: Marks The End Of The Roald Dahl Day]
September is a celebrated month for literature lovers. Roald Dahl, a much-loved children’s author, was born on September 13. His fans start celebrating Roald Dahl Day on September 12, leading up until his actual birthday.
[Fact 7: Historically, Deemed A Lucky Day For Concorde]
On September 12, 1973, the supersonic passenger airliner, Concorde, made its first non-stop transatlantic crossing and managed to do it in record time, it landed in less than three and a half hours!
[Fact 8: Beyoncé’s Documentary Released on this Day]
Queen B herself, Beyoncé, released her highly anticipated self-directed documentary ‘Life is But a Dream’ on HBO on the 12th of September, 2013. The film gave fans an in-depth look into the superstar’s heavily guarded private life.
[Fact 9: Responsible for the "Friday the 13th" Superstition]
If you find yourself feeling superstitious about "Friday the 13th," you can blame it on September 12. This superstition came about as a result of the misfortune that occurred on Friday, September 12, 1869. On this day, the American gold market crashed, leading to widespread panic and economic downfall.
[Fact 10: Inauguration of the Lascaux Cave Paintings]
Freedom of the press played a significant role in unveiling the Lascaux Cave paintings to the world. It was on 12 September 1940 that four teenagers made this remarkable discovery. The caves feature paintings dating back to the Palaeolithic era, around 15,000 to 17,000 years ago.
[Fact 11: The Beatles received their MBEs on this Day]
On 12th September 1965, The Beatles added another feather to their caps. Queen Elizabeth II awarded all four members of this iconic rock band an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
[Fact 12: First Game in Fenway Park History to Be Played Under Lights Happened on This Day]
Baseball enthusiasts mark September 12, 1947 in their calendars as a historical day. The Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox participated in the first-ever game in Fenway Park History to be played under lights.
[Fact 13: Marks the death of Steve Biko]
On September 12, 1977, the world mourned the death of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. His brave fight against social injustice and his unwavering courage inspired many.
[Fact 14: Saw the end of the Xerox Alto Project]
The 12th of September 1973, saw the end of the Xerox Alto project that began the era of point-and-click interfaces, leading the path to contemporary personal computing.
[Fact 15: Just Another Day in Bornholm, Denmark
Bornholm, the small Danish island, continues to observe September 12 as an ordinary day. There are no national holidays or major events on that day, marking it just like any other day in the calendar year.
[Fact 16: The Day Miss America Got Its First African American Winner]
September 12 proved to be a significant day in the history of beauty pageants. In 1983, Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America, becoming the first African American woman to win the title.
[Fact 17: Historical Art Theft Day
Art lovers remember September 12, 2012, as the day when two valuable paintings were stolen from the Rotterdam Kunsthal. These paintings were a part of the Triton Foundation’s collection and included works from renowned artists like Monet and Picasso.
[Fact 18: Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning eloped on this Day]
On the 12th September 1846, the highly distinguished poets, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, made the bold decision to elope and tie the knot secretly, marking the day as a memorable one for literature enthusiasts.
[Fact 19: Algeria Experienced Its Worst Floods On September 12, 1927
Algeria faced one of its most destructive natural disasters on September 12th, 1927. Severe floods resulted in several lives lost and caused heavy property damage across the North African nation.
[Fact 20: The Day of Conception in Russia
In an effort to promote higher birth rates, the Russian region of Ulyanovsk has declared September 12th as the Day of Conception. Since 2005, couples are given the day off from work to focus on conceiving a child. Those who give birth exactly nine months later on the country's national day, June 12, receive prizes.