Holidays Calendar for August 1, 2020
The People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China was founded on August 1, 1927. This day is an important holiday for the Chinese, that is known in the country as Army Day.
National Day in Switzerland is celebrated annually on August 1. This is the only one federal holiday, and it was created to commemorated the anniversary of foundation of Switzerland.
Public Holidays →
Barbados,
Belize,
Guyana,
Jamaica,
Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago,
Turks and Caicos Islands
Emancipation Day
Many countries, that are former colonies, celebrate Emancipation Day on August 1. This public holiday celebrates the day, when slavery was abolished in 1833.
Independence Day is a major public holiday in Benin. It is celebrated on August 1 each year to commemorate the day when Benin gained independence from France in 1960.
Parents' Day, that annually falls on August 1, is one of the public holidays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Unlike other counties, DR Congo doesn't celebrate Father's Day and Mother's Day as separate holidays, but has one holiday, that is dedicated to both parents.
The first ten days of August in Managua are filled with colorful processions and other events dedicated to Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo), the city’s patron saint. August 1 and 10 (the 1st and the 10th day of the festivities) were even declared official holidays and non-working days in the capital of Nicaragua.
World Lung Cancer Day, also referred to as World Lung Cancer Awareness Day, is observed annually on August 1. It was created to shine a light on one of the deadliest cancers and highlight the importance of lung cancer prevention and screening.
International Childfree Day is observed annually on August 1. It was created in 1973 to support people who voluntarily choose not to have children and often face ridicule, criticism and rejection because of their choice.
International Mahjong Day is celebrated each August 1 in honor of a board game that originated in 19th-century China and has spread across the world since then. It should not be confused with the solitaire game of the same name.
Despite the Internet being a relatively new invention, it is hard to imagine our lives without it. On World Wide Web Day, observed annually on August 1, we celebrate a technology that was crucial to the development of Internet and its creator, Tim-Berners Lee.
Old Vine Day is observed around the globe on August 1 to celebrate vineyards that are several decades old. It was initiated by the Old Vine Project, a South African nonprofit that certifies the plant dates of old vineyards.
Albariño Day, also known as International Albariño Day, is celebrated annually on August 1. It was created to honor a white wine grape variety grown primarily in northwestern Portugal and the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia.
Day of the Rear Services of the Armed Forces is one of the professional holidays of Russian military and civilian personnel. This holiday is annually observed on August 1.
Lebanese servicemen annually observe their professional holiday, Armed Forces Day, on August 1. This date is considered to be the birthday of the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1945.
Technical Support Worker Day is an unofficial, but quite popular professional day observed in Russia on August 1. It celebrates people who help millions of users of technology products and services on a daily basis.
Women Astronomers Day is celebrated annually on August 1. It was created to celebrate the contributions to astronomy made by women and ensure that women in natural sciences get the credit they deserve.
National Veterans and First Responders Day, commonly referred to as simply National VFR Day, is observed annually on the first Saturday of August. It was created to address the most common mental health issues faced by first responders and veterans.
On August 1, Peruvians celebrate National Alpaca Day (Dia Nacional del Alpaca). This holiday was created to honor cute, fuzzy animals that are often confused with llamas and to highlight their importance for the economy of Peru.
President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliev established a new cultural observance, known as Day of Azerbaijani Language and Alphabet in 2001. This holiday is celebrated annually on August 1.
Thai Women’s Day is observed annually on August 1. It was inaugurated in 2003 in honor of Queen Sirikit, the queen consort of King Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadej).
Pachamama Raymi is an annual traditional festival celebrated in some parts of Ecuador and Peru. On August 1 each year, locals express their gratitude to Mother Earth.
August 1 is Memorial Day for the Victims of World War I in Russia. This memorial day was established by Presidential Decree in 2012, and first celebration took place on August 1, 2013.
Warsaw Uprising Memorial Day is a remembrance day that has been observed in Poland since 2010. This day commemorates the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising that began on August 1, 1944.
Minden Day is a regiment anniversary celebrated on August 1 by a number of regiments of the British Army. It commemorates the participation of their forerunners in the Battle of Minden during the Seven Years’ War.
On August 1, Laos and Cambodia celebrate the anniversary of the end of the First Indochina War, known in these countries as Victory Day. Although the majority of hostilities took place in Vietnam, the war greatly affected Cambodia and Laos because the victory of the Viet Minh fully reasserted their independence.
Yorkshire Day is observed in the historic English county of Yorkshire on August 1. It celebrates the culture of Yorkshire, ranging from its history to its dialect and accent, and promotes a wider recognition of the historical borders of Yorkshire.
Colorado Statehood Day, also known as simply Colorado Day, is celebrated annually on August 1 to commemorate Colorado’s admission to the Union as the 38th state in 1876.
August 1 is National Raspberry Cream Pie Day in the United States. This food holiday celebrates a delicious summer dessert.
August 1 is National Girlfriends Day. Since the creators of this unofficial holiday are unknown, it’s unclear whether it is intended to be a day for people to celebrate their female romantic partners or their friends who happen to be girls. So we guess that the best way to celebrate it is to honor both.
Food Day Canada is annually celebrated by Canadians on the Saturday of the Civic Holiday weekend, which is either the first Saturday of August or the last Saturday of July. The celebration was established by Canadian activist and culinary author Anita Stewart in 2003.
National Mustard Day is the annual celebration that is held at the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin on the first Saturday in August.
August 1 is a great day to bake a delicious pie and share it with your loved ones because it is Homemade Pie Day. This amazing holiday celebrates a quintessential American dessert that is ingrained in the culture of the United States.
The United States has an astonishing number of food days dedicated to various types of foods and beverages. For example, the first Saturday of August is National Mead Day. It celebrates one of the world’s oldest alcoholic beverages that has been enjoying growing popularity lately.
The first Saturday of August is the perfect day to become more familiar with Jamaican cuisine because it is National Jamaican Patty Day. It was created to celebrate a delicious savory pastry that can be found in many Caribbean cuisines.
The first Saturday of August is the perfect day to head to a beach and build a beautiful sandcastle since it is Sandcastle Day. This fun holiday serves to popularize sand art and encourage people to try their hand at it.
International Hangover Day is celebrated on the day after International Beer Day, falling on the first or sometimes second Saturday of August. It was created to provide people with hangover recovery tips they might need after celebrating International Beer Day.
Lughnasadh was one of the most important festivals for Celts. Many other names stand for the name of this festival – Lughnasa, Lúnasa, Lùnastal and Luanistyn, but they mean the same. This summer festival is still observed in Ireland.
Scouts have several holidays, that help them promote scouting in different countries around the world. World Scout Scarf Day is one of these holidays, that is annually celebrated on August 1.
National Minority Donor Awareness Day is observed annually on August 1. It was created to raise awareness of the need for minority donors, honor minorities who have been donors, and encourage organ donation among minority communities.
The first Saturday of August is the perfect day to play a fun game called disc golf, since it is National Disc Golf Day. So call your friends, grab your frisbees, and have some fun together.
Festivals on August 1, 2020
- Beat Film Festival in Moscow, Russia
- Spicemas (Grenada Carnival) in St. George’s, Grenada
- Armageddon Expo in Wellington, New Zealand
- World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, Japan
- Hugo Awards in Wellington, New Zealand
- Salzburg Festival in Salzburg, Austria
- Transilvania International Film Festival in Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Qingdao International Beer Festival in Qingdao, China
- BVI Emancipation Festival in Road Town, British Virgin Islands
- Cambridge Folk Festival in Cherry Hinton, United Kingdom
- Minnesota Fringe Festival in Minneapolis, USA
- Pol’and’Rock Festival (Woodstock Festival Poland) in Warsaw, Poland
- Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, USA
- Worldcon in Wellington, New Zealand
- Jazz in Marciac in Marciac, France
This Day in History
- 2023 A grand jury indicted former U.S. President Donald Trump on four charges for his conduct following the 2020 presidential election through the January 6 Capitol attack.
- 2018 Died: Rick Genest, also known as Zombie Boy, Canadian artist, actor, and fashion model. He received his nickname for the corpse tattoos covering the majority of his body.
- 2009 A shooting occurred at the Tel Aviv branch of the Israeli LGBT Association. Two people were killed, and at least fifteen were injured.
- 2009 Died: Corazon Aquino, Philippine politician who served as the 11th President of the Philippines. She was the first female president in Asia.
- 2008 Eleven mountaineers from international expeditions died while ascending K2, the world's second-highest mountain after Mount Everest.
- 2004 A disastrous fire occurred at the Ycuá Bolaños V supermarket in Asunción, Paraguay. The final death toll was 394, including nine missing.
- 1997 Died: Sviatoslav Richter, Soviet pianist known for his virtuoso technique. He considered to be one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
- 1996 Died: Tadeusz Reichstein, Polish chemist residing in Switzerland who was awarded the 1950 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
- 1989 Born: Gayle Rankin, Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Sheila in the Netflix series GLOW and as Alys Rivers on the HBO series House of the Dragon.
- 1988 Born: Max Carver, American actor best known for his role as Aiden on Teen Wolf. His twin brother Charlie Carver was born on July 31.
- 1981 The American television channel MTV was launched. The first music video shown on MTV was The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star".
- 1979 Born: Jason Momoa, American actor. He is known for his roles in Stargate Atlantis, Game of Thrones, the DC Extended Universe, Dune, Fast X, and other films and TV shows.
- 1977 Died: Francis Gary Powers, American pilot whose CIA U-2 spy plane was shot down during a reconnaissance mission over USSR airspace.
- 1976 Born: Don Hertzfeldt, American animator, writer, and independent filmmaker. He is best known for the animated films It's Such a Beautiful Day, the World of Tomorrow series, and Rejected.
- 1975 The Helsinki Accords (also known as Helsinki Declaration) was signed at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.
- 1970 Died: Otto Heinrich Warburg, German physiologist and physician who was awarded the 1931 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
- 1967 Died: Richard Kuhn, Austrian-German biochemist who was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on carotenoids and vitamins.
- 1966 American student Charles Whitman killed 16 people and wounded 32 others in a spree shooting at the University of Texas at Austin.
- 1965 Born: Sam Mendes, English film and stage director. In 1999, he became the sixth director to earn the Academy Award for his feature film debut.
- 1963 Born: Coolio (stage name of Artis Leon Ivey Jr.), American rapper. He was best known for his 1995 single "Gangsta's Paradise", which won a Grammy Award.
- 1945 Born: Douglas Osheroff, American physicist who was awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Robert C. Richardson and David Lee.
- 1944 During the Second World War, the Warsaw Uprising against the Nazi occupation began. It was organized by the Polish resistance Home Army.
- 1943 Died: Lydia Litvyak, fighter pilot of the Soviet Air Force during the Second World War. She was the first female pilot to earn fighter ace.
- 1936 Born: Yves Saint Laurent, Algerian-born French fashion designer who is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in fashion history.
- 1914 The German Empire declared war on the Russian Empire at the opening of the First World War. The Swiss Army began to mobilize.
- 1885 Born: George de Hevesy, German and Hungarian radiochemist who was awarded the 1943 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on tracers.
- 1834 The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force, abolishing slavery in the British Empire. In practical terms, only slaves below the age of 6 were freed.
- 1819 Born: Herman Melville, American novelist, short story writer and poet best known for his novel Moby-Dick, which was first published in 1851.
- 1818 Born: Maria Mitchell, American astronomer who discovered the comet C/1847 T1, which was named after her (Miss Mitchell's Comet).
- 1779 Born: Francis Scott Key, American lawyer and poet best known for writing the lyrics to the U.S. anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".
- 1774 English chemist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen, having isolated it in its gaseous state. He called the new substance "dephlogisticated air".
- 1774 Born: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist. He is best known as the developer of the first full-fledged evolutionary scheme.
- 1714 Died: Anne, Queen of Great Britain. During her reign, the kingdoms of England and Scotland were united as a single sovereign state (1707).
- 1464 Died: Cosimo de' Medici, the first of the famous Medici political dynasty, the de facto rulers of Florence during much of the Italian Renaissance.
- 1137 Died: Louis VI of France, called the Fat or the Fighter, King of the Franks from 1108 until his death. He was the fifth monarch of the Capetian dynasty.