Fact 1: International Literacy Day
September 08 has been recognized as International Literacy Day (ILD) across the globe since 1967. UNSECO’s General Conference proclaimed this date to be observed annually as ILD, aiming to highlight various international, national, and regional efforts towards promoting literacy and education.
Fact 2: The Star-Spangled Banner Anniversary
The United States celebrates the writing of their national anthem, 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' on September 08. Francis Scott Key wrote the anthem in 1814, describing the British attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. This patriotic song officially became the national anthem in 1931.
Fact 3: The Day MTV Started Airing Reality TV
On September 8, 1991, MTV introduced a new era of television, when it started airing 'The Real World'. This program is considered the pioneer of reality TV shows, a genre which has since become immensely popular worldwide.
Fact 4: Siege of Vienna: A Turning Point in History
It was on September 8, 1529, that the Ottomans began their Siege of Vienna, a turning point in the history of Central Europe. This siege marked the beginning of the long-lasting conflict between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans.
Fact 5: Queen Elizabeth I's Coronation
On September 8, 1533, Queen Elizabeth I of England was born. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her reign is referred to as the Elizabethan era and is often considered a golden age in English history.
Fact 6: The Galveston Hurricane of 1900
On this day in 1900, the Galveston Hurricane struck the Texas city, resulting in at least 8,000 deaths. It was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Fact 7: The Oath of Allegiance
The first broadcasted Oath of Allegiance in the United States happened on September 8, 1892. Francis Bellamy wrote the pledge, originally intended for school children to recite during the celebration of Columbus Day, which was subsequently adopted as the country's Oath of Allegiance.
Fact 8: Boris Yeltsin's Interruption to the Parliament
On September 08, 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin suspended parliament and called for new national elections. This move stirred up a constitutional crisis, which ended with military force.
Fact 9: A New Hope
On 8th September 1977, George Lucas registered the title for The Star Wars Corporation's second motion picture, 'A New Hope'. It was the first movie of the original Star Wars trilogy to be released later, creating a significant impact on pop culture.
Fact 10: First Miss America
On 8th September 1921, the first Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The crown was won by Margaret Gorman of Washington D.C.
Fact 11: Debut of Star Trek: The Original Series
This day in 1966 resulted in the birth of a pop culture phenomena: Star Trek. The original series premiered on NBC on September 8, igniting the imaginations of many and spurring a franchise that endures to this day.
Fact 12: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
Each year, September 8th marks the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church, who believe it as the birthday of Jesus's mother, Mary.
Fact 13: The birth of a literary master
September 8, 1841, witnessed the birth of Anton Chekhov, the Russian master of modern short stories and celebrated playwright.
Fact 14: Founding of The International Committee of the Red Cross
On September 8, 1864, 12 European nations agreed on the first Geneva Convention, which led to the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Fact 15: A triumphant day for Jeep
The first-ever civil Jeep vehicle was produced on 8th September 1945. It was dubbed the CJ-2A, with CJ standing for "Civilian Jeep."
Fact 16: NFL Regular Season Commence
September 8, 2002, marked a momentous day in the global sports scene as the NFL Regular Season started. The new York Giants kicked off the year against the San Francisco 49ers.
Fact 17: Breakthrough research awarded with the Nobel Prize
George de Hevesy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the use of isotopes as tracers to study chemical processes on September 8, 1943.
Fact 18: Pink Floyd Debuts on Billboard Chart
On September 8, 1973, Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' made its Billboard chart debut. The landmark album spent over fourteen years on the chart.
Fact 19: Patsy Cline's Tragic Airplane Crash
Country music star Patsy Cline, along with other musicians, died in a plane crash on September 8, 1962. She was one of the first women in the country music industry to compete with male stars.
Fact 20: Pavarotti's Last Public Performance
World-famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti made his last public performance in a rendition of Nessun Dorma at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, which was aired on this day.