Saxophone Day

November 6 is Saxophone Day, an unofficial Holiday that celebrates the woodwind instrument popularly used in jazz, classical music, and military ensembles.

The day honours saxophonists and commemorates the birth anniversary of its inventor Adolphe Sax. Born in Belgium in 1814, Sax was an instrument maker and musician who designed and introduced the Saxophone in 1840.

Used Extensively

It was first adopted for use in military bands and soon became a popular instrument played in a concert band and in chamber music. Chamber music is a type of music played by a group of small instruments - ones that usually can fit into a small room or chamber.

Today, the Saxophone is used extensively in jazz and other kinds of dance music and in symphony orchestras around the world.

Many Different Types

The Saxophone comes in many different varieties, though most saxophonists usually use one of the four most popular types. These are tenor, baritone, alto, and soprano saxophones. The tenor saxophone is usually used in jazz and rock music bands, while the baritone saxophone tends to be reserved for jazz solos. The Alto Saxophone is easy to play and therefore used to train beginners. The Soprano plays the highest pitch among all saxophones and is also often played in jazz bands.

Other saxophones include Mezzo Soprano, Sopranino, Tubax, Bass and Contrabass.

World Saxophone Day

In 2015, the Sax Open Project, a group of music composers and saxophonists declared June 12 as the first annual World Saxophone Day. The day is part of the week-long World Saxophone Congress and Festival.

Did You Know…

…that Adolphe Sax was also responsible for inventing the Saxhorn, Saxotromba, and the Saxtuba?

World Tsunami Awareness Day

World Tsunami Awareness Day is celebrated every year on November 5 to increase awareness about the dangers of tsunamis and encourage preparation in case a natural disaster strikes. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, this day reminds us that effective early warning systems and community education are needed to mitigate the devastating impacts of tsunamis.

Significance and History

This was done to commemorate Inamura-no-hi, which fell on November 5, 1854, wherein a tsunami was declared to hit following an earthquake by Japanese farmer Hamaguchi Goryō in his observation of the signs of the calamity. During this instance, he burnt his rice sheaves to alert the other people of his village of the approaching destruction. In this way, an early warning concerning communities being prepared in the event of a natural calamity can be seen.

This observation targets the sensitization of communities regarding the risks involving tsunamis because it shows more than 700 million people live in tsunami-prone coastal regions. Today also focuses on further international cooperation that would globally increase tsunami preparedness since population density along coastal areas is also growing.

Historical Events

Some historical events underscore that tsunami awareness and preparedness are very important. Following are some key incidents of the lessons learned and response strategies:

1854 Nankai Tsunami, Japan

On November 5, 1854, a huge earthquake of 8.4 magnitude struck the Kii Peninsula in Japan, creating a devastating tsunami. Local elder Goryo Hamaguchi set rice sheaves on fire to drive villagers up the hills and away from the danger of the approaching tsunami. Many lives were saved, and his bravery became a piece of Japanese folklore. Today, the event is honoured by World Tsunami Awareness Day, reminding everyone of the need for preventive action in dealing with a tsunami.

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

One of the deadliest natural disasters in human history, the Boxing Day tsunami of December 26, 2004, killed over 230,000 people from 14 countries, while triggered by a gigantic undersea earthquake, 87 miles off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, exposed severe deficits in global tsunami warning systems. This disaster changed that. 

Chilean 1960 tsunami

This tsunami was caused by the largest recorded earthquake, measuring 9.5 in Valdivia, Chile on May 22, 1960, and it extended to the coastal regions as far as Hawaii and Japan. The waves covered a distance of more than 10,000 kilometers with devastating damage and more than 2,000 fatalities. This disaster led UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to establish the first Pacific Tsunami Warning System, indicating a need for international cooperation in tsunami preparedness.

Jamnalal Bajaj's Birth Anniversary

 

Jamnalal Kaniram Bajaj, born on 4 November 1889, in Kashi Ka Bas, Sikar, Rajputana Agency, British India, was an Indian businessman and politician. He founded the Bajaj Group of companies in the 1920s, and the group now has 24 companies, including six that are listed on the bourses. He was also a close and beloved associate of Mahatma Gandhi, who is known to have often declared that Jamnalal was his fifth son.

 

World Jellyfish Day

 

The majority of jellyfish are free-swimming marine organisms with bells that resemble umbrellas and trailing tentacles. From surface waters to the deep sea, the word "jellies" or "sea jellies" is used all over the world. In some cultures, it is consumed by people, and it is also employed in research.

On November 3, people all over the world observe World Jellyfish Day. This day is celebrated to be aware of the threats that jellyfish face.  Do not wait to learn more about the background, importance, interesting trivia, and other topics.

History of World Jellyfish Day

Since 2014, the third of November has served as the date for World Jellyfish Day. It's springtime in the southern hemisphere, and this is the time of year when jellyfish start to migrate to the northern hemisphere's coastlines.

Significance of World Jellyfish Day

The jellyfish has a significant impact on the biomass, spatiotemporal dynamics, and community structure of the global marine plankton ecosystems. They provide food for us, house young fish in their tentacles, and are being studied for potential medical applications due to the green fluorescent protein that causes their bioluminescence, toxins, and tissues.

Jellyfish are often seen as pests or nuisances, but they are actually important members of the marine ecosystem. They eat plankton, which are tiny organisms that float in the water. Plankton is the base of the marine food chain, so jellyfish help to support all other marine life.

World Jellyfish Day is a significant event that helps to raise awareness about jellyfish and their importance in the marine ecosystem. It is also a chance to educate the public about the threats that jellyfish face and to celebrate their beauty and diversity.

Interesting Facts about Jellyfish

• Jellyfish have existed for more than 500 million years and are older than dinosaurs.
• In addition to lacking bones and a heart, jellyfish also lack a brain, only possessing a central nervous system. However, this does not prevent them from being intelligent and capable of adjusting to their surroundings.
• There are jellyfish that can glow at night! Those that possess this trait have bioluminescent organs that, when touched, release either blue or green light.
• Hair Jelly is the name of one enormous species of jellyfish. In 1870, the largest ever discovered washed up in Massachusetts, USA. Its tentacles were longer than a blue whale's, at more than 120 feet long.
• The mouth of the jellyfish is located in the middle of its body.
• Fish, shrimp, crabs, and tiny plants are the main sources of food for jellyfish, which digest their food very quickly.
• In Chinese culture, jellyfish are regarded as a delicacy and are also used in traditional treatments.
• Humans may experience pain from jellyfish stings, and some species may even die as a result.
• A "bloom," "swarm," or "smack" of jellyfish is a collection of them. What a fun way to describe a group of these unusual and fascinating creatures.
• In a special breeding facility, jellyfish experts at the London Aquarium have bred barrel jellyfish from their earliest stages as polyps.

Obviously, celebrating World Jellyfish Day is not easy bait. So, try to find a nearby aquarium to catch a glimpse of the feeble body.

Day of the Dead

 

Day of the Dead, holiday in Mexico, also observed to a lesser extent in other areas of Latin America and in the United States, honouring dead loved ones and making peace with the eventuality of death by treating it familiarly, without fear and dread. The holiday is derived from the rituals of the pre-Hispanic peoples of Mexico. Led by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, known as “Lady of the Dead,” the celebration lasted a month. After the Spanish arrived in Mexico and began converting the native peoples to Roman Catholicism, the holiday was moved to coincide with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (November 1 and 2, respectively).

Modern observances vary from region to region. In some rural areas, families adorn grave sites with candles, marigolds, and the favourite foods of deceased relatives in an attempt to persuade the loved ones to return for a family reunion. In urban areas, people take to the street for festive celebrations and indulge in the consumption of food and alcohol. Some wear wooden skull masks known as calacas. Many families build altars, called ofrendas, in their homes, using photos, candles, flowers, and food. The festivities are often characterized by black humour. Toys and food, including breads and candies, are created in the shape of symbols of death such as skulls and skeletons.

 

Sohrab Modi's Birth Anniversary

 

Sohrab Merwanji Modi, born on 2 November 1897, in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India, was an Indian stage and film actor, director and producer. His films include Khoon Ka Khoon (1935), a version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Sikandar, Pukar, Prithvi Vallabh, Jhansi Ki Rani, Mirza Ghalib, Jailor and Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957). His films always carried a message of strong commitment to social and national issues.

 

World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day, celebrated each year on November 1, unites vegans globally to showcase the many benefits of a plant-based lifestyle for individuals, animals, and the environment.

This day serves as a platform to educate the public on veganism’s positive impact on ethics, health, and sustainability, inspiring people to consider adopting a vegan lifestyle for its accessible health benefits.

By celebrating veganism, World Vegan Day aims to foster a compassionate and sustainable world, encouraging a focus on plant-based foods and eco-friendly living.

World Vegan Day: History

Veganism has become a global movement founded on the principles of compassion, environmental stewardship, and health.

The Vegan Society, established in England, created World Vegan Day in 1994 to commemorate its 50th anniversary and celebrate the formal addition of the word 'vegan' to English.

The date, November 1, was selected to avoid overlap with Halloween and the Mexican Day of the Dead.

Since then, World Vegan Day has been observed worldwide to promote and honour the vegan lifestyle.

World Vegan Day: Significance

World Vegan Day advocates a plant-based lifestyle, raising awareness about veganism's benefits, encouraging the adoption of a vegan diet, and supporting causes such as animal rights, sustainable farming, and climate action.

This day also aims to increase the availability of vegan food options in public spaces.