IOTD

Calendar day; October 4, 2014

Saturday, the 4th of October, 2014 is the 277th day in 2014 and in the 40th calendar week.

World Space Week
October 4-10, 2014 in the World

The United Nations General Assembly declared World Space Week in 1999. The celebration of World Space Week is under the guidance of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) based in Vienna, Austria.

Original document in which World Space Week was founded: http://www.worldspaceweek.org/uploads/UNISPACEIII_ACONF184_6E.pdf

Where is World Space Week?
Worldwide

Fall Astronomy Week
October 4-11, 2014 in the World

Fall Astronomy Week is observed during the calendar week in which Fall Astronomy Day falls.

Where is Fall Astronomy Week?
Worldwide

General events:

World Animal Day
October 4, 2014 in the World

The Word Animal Day takes place on October 04, 2014. It is a day to celebrate animal life in all is forms and humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom. The day is celebrated annually. The World Animal day was originally started at a convention of ecologists, 1931 in Florence. Since October 4th is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, this date was chosen to celebrate the World Animal Day.

Meanwhile it is celebrated all over the world, with no regard to nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. Churches, synagogues and independent Animal Chaplains held blessings in parks and fields. In Argentina it is celebrated on April 29 as a tribute to the death (in 1926) of Dr. Lucas Ignacio Albarracín. He and Domingo Faustino Sarmiento founded the Sociedad Argentina Protectora de Animales, also known as Argentine Society of Protection of Animals.

Where is World Animal Day?
Worldwide

Dussehra
October 4, 2014 in the World

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi, is a major Indian festival celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin month according to the Hindu calendar. This day falls in the month of September or October. The day culminates a 9 day fasting period of Navratri in the Hindu culture. The day also coincides with immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga. The day is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama. The day also celebrates the killing of demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga. Dussehra celebration spreads the message of the victory of good over sin.

It is believed that the celebration of Dussehra started in the 17th century, when the king of Mysore ordered the celebration of the day on a grand scale. Ever since, the day is celebrated with great fervor and energy. There are a lot of mythological tales associated with the day.

Largely, the day is celebrated to commemorate the prevalence of good over evil. The day is celebrated on a large scale in India as well as in Bangladesh. The most famous Dussehra celebrations in India are those in the city of Mysore. Goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped on this day and a grand procession of her idol is taken out across the city. Major buildings are decorated with lights and color across the city.

Where is Dussehray?
Worldwide

Fall Astronomy Day
October 4, 2014 in the World

Fall Astronomy Day is the autumn counterpart of Spring Astronomy Day in April. To take astronomy to the people. International Fall Astronomy Day is observed on a Saturday near the first quarter moon between mid-September and mid-October. Cosponsored by 14 astronomical organizations.

Astronomy Day Fact Sheet: http://www.astroleague.org/files/astroday/FactSheet-2010.pdf

Where is Fall Astronomy Day?
Worldwide

National Frappe Day
October 4, 2014 in the USA

Today is National Frappe Day! The frappe is a chilled foam-covered coffee drink that originated in Greece in the 1950s. Today, there are many different variations of this refreshing beverage.

In the United States, frappes are usually made with coffee, milk, ice, vanilla ice cream, and sugar combined in a blender. In other parts of the world fruit frappes are popular.

Some people pronounce it “frap” while others say “frah-pay,” but everyone can agree on the satisfying taste of this cool, creamy coffee treat. Make your own frappe today to celebrate National Frappe Day!

Where is National Frappe Day?
Nationwide USA

National Golf Day
October 4, 2014 in the USA

National Golf Day is celebrated on October 04, 2014. It is a charitable event, sponsored annually since 1952 by the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA). Golf is a precision club and ball sport in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course using the fewest number of strokes.

It is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area. Instead, the game is played on a golf course, generally consisting of an arranged progression of either 9 or 18 “holes.” Each hole on the course must contain a “tee box” to start from, and a “putting green” containing the actual hole.

Where is National Golf Day?
Nationwide USA

Historical Events on 4th October:
1363 – End of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the Chinese rebel forces of Zhu Yuanzhang defeat that of his rival, Chen Youliang, in one of the largest naval battles in history.

1537 – The first complete English-language Bible (the Matthew Bible) is printed, with translations by William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale.

1675 – Christian Huygens patents pocket watch

1824 – Mexico becomes a republic

1830 – Provisional government declares secession of Belgium from Netherlands

1881 – Edward Leveaux patents automatic player piano

1883 – Orient Express’ 1st run, linking Turkey to Europe by rail

1900 – In a final confrontation, some 4000 rebellious Ashantis are defeated by the British, Ashanti, Gold Coast, Africa

1910 – Adoption of the Flag of Bermuda.

1921 – League of Nations refuses to assist starving Russians

1922 – Protocol of Genevia signed: Austria gains independence

1927 – Gutzon Borglum begins sculpting Mt. Rushmore.

1931 – Dick Tracy comic strip by Chester Gould debuts

1949 – United Nations’ permanent NYC headquarters is dedicated

1958 – Fifth Republic of France is established.

1959 – USSR Luna 3 sent back 1st photos of Moon’s far side

1966 – Lesotho (Basutoland) gains independence from Britain (National Day)

1997 – The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurs at the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Loomis, Fargo and Company. An FBI investigation eventually results in 24 convictions and the recovery of approximately 95% of the $17.3 million in cash which had been taken.