Holidays Calendar for February 8, 2018
Prešeren Day, also referred to as the Slovene Culture Day or the Slovenian Cultural Holiday, is a public holiday observed in Slovenia on February 8. It marks the death anniversary of France Prešeren who is regarded as the greatest Slovene classical author and the country's national poet.
Parinirvana Day, also referred to as Nirvana Day, is a Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia on February 8 or February 15. Most Mahāyāna Buddhists celebrate it on February 15.
Thursday that falls on the eighth week before Easter is the Feast of Saint Vartan in Armenia. Armenians pay tribute to the heroes on this day.
Try a digital detox on February 6, 7 and/or 8 by participating in World Days Without Phone & Smartphone (Journées mondiales sans téléphone portable & smartphone), an annual campaign that was launched over two decades ago.
Scotch whisky lovers can celebrate three international holidays dedicated to their favorite drink: International Whisk(e)y Day (March 27) and World Whisky Day celebrate all kinds of whisky, whereas International Scotch Day is dedicated specifically to Scotch whisky, often simply called Scotch.
Day of Russian Science is an official professional observance held on February 8. It was declared by Russian President Boris Yeltsin in 1999 and has been celebrated each year since 2000.
Prison Service Day (Święto Służby Więziennej) is an official professional holiday in Poland celebrated on February 8. It was established in accordance with the Prison Service Act of April 9, 2010. Like other statutory holidays in Poland, Prison Service Day is a working day unless it falls on a weekend.
Air Force Day is an official observance in the Islamic Republic of Iran, celebrated on February 8 (19 Bahman in the Solar Hijri calendar). On this day in 1979, the officers of the Iranian Air Force pledged allegiance to Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iranian Revolution.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) celebrate Scout’s Day on February 8 to commemorate the founding of the BSA in 1910. The Sunday preceding February 8 (or February 8 if it falls on a Sunday) is designated as Scout Sunday, the following Friday is Scout Jumu’ah, and the following Saturday is Scout Sabbath.
When did you appreciate the taste of molasses bar for the last time? It's time to remember and celebrate National Molasses Bar Day on February 8.
Propose Day is celebrated on February 8, the second day of the Valentine’s week. If you’ve been meaning to propose to your significant other for quite some time but haven’t actually gotten to do it yet, this day is just for you!
National Kite Flying Day is an amazing holiday celebrated annually on February 8. It was created to encourage people to spend more time outdoors and bond with their loved ones through fun activities such as kite flying.
If you love cheesecake and chocolate, you absolutely have to celebrate Chocolate Cheesecake Day on February 8 and pay tribute to this match made in heaven.
In most European countries, Carnival festivities reach their peak either on Rosenmontag or on Shrove Tuesday (the Monday or the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent), but, of course, they start before that. In some countries, for example, it is common to cook and eat large quantities of foods that are prohibited during Lent on the last Thursday before Lent, which is known as Fat Thursday.
Giving Hearts Day is an annual charitable campaign held on the second Thursday of February. It is observed around Valentine’s Day to encourage people to show affection to not just their loved ones but charities that are close to their hearts, too.
Festivals on February 8, 2018
- Bonn Carnival in Bonn, Germany
- Lucerne Carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland
- Cologne Carnival in Cologne, Germany
- Carnival of Maastricht in Maastricht, Netherlands
- Rabadan Carnival in Bellinzona in Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Angeles, Philippines
- Carnival of Cádiz in Cádiz, Spain
- Carnival of Monthey in Monthey, Switzerland
- Carriacou and Petite Martinique Carnival (Kayak Mas) in Hillsborough, Grenada
- Düsseldorf Carnival in Düsseldorf, Germany
- Carnival of Sciacca in Sciacca, Italy
- Busójárás (Mohács Carnival) in Mohács, Hungary
- Cerknica Carnival in Cerknica, Slovenia
- Carnival of Vilanova i la Geltrú in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
- Mainz Carnival in Mainz, Germany
This Day in History
- 2014 A fire occurred in a hotel in Medina, Saudi Arabia. It killed 15 Egyptian pilgrims who were staying at the hotel to perform the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
- 2007 Died: Anna Nicole Smith (born Vickie Lynn Hogan), American model, actress, and TV personality who first gained popularity in Playboy.
- 1999 Died: Iris Murdoch, Irish-born British novelist and philosopher who is considered to be one of the greatest British writers of the late 20th century.
- 1998 Died: Halldór Laxness (born Halldór Guðjónsson), Icelandic writer who was awarded the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is the only Icelandic Nobel laureate.
- 1996 The United States Congress passed the Communications Decency Act. It was the first notable attempt to regulate pornographic material on the Internet.
- 1987 Born: Carolina Costner, Italian retired figure skater. She is the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2012 World champion, a five-time European champion, and the 2011 Grand Prix Final champion.
- 1984 Born: Cecily Strong, American actress and comedian. She is known for being a cast member of Saturday Night Live for ten years and her starring role in Schmigadoon!
- 1979 Died: Dennis Gabor (born Gábor Dénes), Hungarian and British physicist who was awarded the 1971 Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing holography.
- 1974 The crew of Skylab 4 returned to Earth after 84 days in space. It was the last crew to visit the American space station Skylab.
- 1974 Born: Seth Green, American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director. He is the creator and executive producer of Robot Chicken.
- 1971 The NASDAQ Stock Market began trading. It was the world's first electronic stock market. It is currently the largest stock exchange in the United States.
- 1969 Born: Mary Robinette Kowal, American author and puppeteer. Her notable novels include The Lady Astronaut of Mars, The Calculating Stars, The Relentless Moon, and The Spare Man.
- 1969 The Allende meteorite fell over the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth and the best-studied meteorite in history.
- 1968 The Orangeburg massacre occurred. 3 protesters demonstrating against racial segregation were shoot by the police, and 28 were injured.
- 1968 Born: Gary Coleman, American actor who is best known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes.
- 1960 Died: Giles Gilbert Scott, English architect. He is best known for designing the iconic red telephone box which is considered a British cultural icon.
- 1957 Died: Walther Bothe, German nuclear physicist who received the 1954 Nobel Prize in Physics sharing it with Max Born.
- 1957 Died: John von Neumann, Hungarian and American mathematician, physicist, inventor, and polymath who made significant contributions to a number of fields.
- 1953 Born: Mary Steenburgen, American actress, comedian, singer and songwriter known for her roles in Melvin and Howard, Ragtime, Parenthood, and many other films and television series.
- 1950 The Ministry for State Security, also known as the State Security Service or the Stasi, was formed in the German Democratic Republic.
- 1931 Born: James Dean, American actor who is considered a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment. His premature death in 1955 cemented his legendary status.
- 1880 Born: Franz Marc, German painter and printmaker who was one of the key figures of the German Expressionist movement. He was one of the founders of Der Blaue Reiter.
- 1878 Born: Martin Buber, Austrian-born Israeli philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of existentialism.
- 1865 Delaware voters rejected the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Delaware finally ratified the amendment on February 12, 1901.
- 1855 The so-called Devil's Footprints appeared in the snow around the Exe Estuary in East Devon and South Devon, England. The accident has not been explained yet.
- 1834 Born: Dmitri Mendeleev, Russian chemist and inventor who is best known as the author of the Periodic Law and the periodic table of elements.
- 1828 Born: Jules Verne, French novelist, playwright, and poet who is best known for his adventure novels. He is considered to one of the forerunners of science fiction.
- 1819 Born: John Ruskin, English art critic, art patron, writer, drafter, watercolorist, philanthropist, and social thinker. He had a great influence on the Pre-Raphaelites.
- 1807 Napoleon defeated Russians in the Battle of Eylau, also known as the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau. Both sides suffered enormous losses.
- 1752 Died: Peter the Great (also known as Peter I), the first Russian emperor. He led a cultural revolution and made his country a major European power.
- 1709 Died: Giuseppe Torelli, Italian violist, violinist, teacher, and composer best known for his contributions to the development of the instrumental concerto.
- 1700 Born: Daniel Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician and physicist, a member of the famous dynasty of mathematicians. His name is commemorated in the Bernoulli principle.
- 1587 Died: Mary, Queen of Scots (also known as Mary Stuart) who was Queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567 and Queen consort of France from 1559 to 1560. She was beheaded.
- 412 Born: Proclus, Greek Neoplatonist philosopher who is considered to be one of the last major Classical philosophers.