Social Media Giving Day

 

Every year on July 15, the world celebrates Social Media Giving Day. It was founded by Givver.com, a non-profit organization that has been raising cash through Twitter (now ‘X’) since 2013. Chris Sommers, the inventor of Givver.com, is also the founder of the famous American restaurant chain Pi Pizzeria. Moreover, Social Media Giving Day is an annual event that promotes generosity and charitable giving by leveraging the power of social media. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to use social media channels on this day to raise awareness about problems they care about and inspire others to make a difference. Whether it’s sharing personal stories, spotlighting important projects, or offering information on how to donate, this day provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to increase the reach of charity activities.

National Tape Measure Day (United States)

On July 14, measuring twice means something extra on National Tape Measure Day. Measure our facts after we share a quick history about the tape measure and explain why it is a standard tool in almost every household.

Alvin J. Fellows of New Haven, Connecticut made the lives of carpenters, electricians, seamstresses, and countless other tradesmen and craftsmen easier. On July 14, 1868, Fellows was granted a patent for "Improvements in Tape Measures" that created a whole new era for measurement. Enter the generation of retractable tape measures.  

The first recorded use of the tape measure goes back to the Romans, utilizing marked strips of leather. Before Fellows' patent, Englishman James Chesterman designed a steel measuring tape, but it was expensive for its time. At $17 in 1853, it was equivalent to $300 in today's U.S. dollars. Chesterman's big, bulky design didn't fit in a pocket or even a toolbox. When Fellows' patent came along, tape measures became the sliced bread of the toolbox. 

The tape measure we know and use now comes in a wide array of sizes, colours, and materials. You can find some smaller than the palm of your hand or bigger in lengths of 300+ feet. They are used for anything from DIY projects at home, by contractors, and in construction and at a much lower price. 

Foundation Day of ISKCON

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, is a Hindu religious organization. It follows the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which emphasizes devotion (bhakti) to Krishna as the supreme deity. The ISKCON was founded on 13 July 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The organization's spiritual and administrative headquarters is located in Mayapur, West Bengal, India, and it claims a global membership of around one million people.

ISKCON teaches a form of panenthestic Hinduism rooted in the Bhagvad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana, and other scriptures, interpreted through the commentaries of its founder. Although commonly regarded as monotheistic by the general public, ISKCON theology emphasizes that the Supreme Being, Krishna, manifests in multiple forms while remaining the singular, ultimate reality. The movement is described as the largest and most influential branch of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which originated in India in the early 16th century and expanded internationally during the late 20th century.

ISKCON promotes bhakti yoga - —the path of devotional service to Krishna—as the central spiritual practice of its members, who are often referred to as "bhaktas." The movement also encourages lacto vegetarianism, regular chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, and strict ethical and devotional disciplines as part of its teachings on spiritual progress.

 

Independence Day in São Tomé and Príncipe

Independence Day in São Tomé and Príncipe is celebrated on July 12, marking the day in 1975 when the country gained independence from Portuguese colonial rule. The archipelago was discovered by Portuguese navigators in the late 15th century and served as an important hub for the Atlantic slave trade. After centuries under Portuguese control, a peaceful coup in Portugal on April 25, 1974 (known as the Carnation Revolution), led to decolonization efforts across its empire. São Tomé and Príncipe achieved full sovereignty on July 12, 1975, with Manuel Pinto da Costa serving as the nation's first president.

Traditions:

·    Official Ceremonies: The day is marked by formal ceremonies including speeches from government officials, flag-raising events, and parades.

·   Cultural Festivities: Cultural performances featuring traditional music and dance are common.

·  Public Gatherings: Citizens often partake in public gatherings to celebrate their national pride.

·    Sports Competitions: Sporting events, such as football matches, are organized to foster community spirit.

What People Do: On Independence Day, people of São Tomé and Príncipe engage in a variety of activities that reflect their joy and national pride. They attend organized events like parades or concerts where local artists perform. Families and friends often gather for meals or picnics to celebrate together. It is a day when citizens reflect on their nation's history and cultural identity while looking forward to its future. Public buildings are adorned with flags and other national symbols to commemorate this significant date in the country's history.

Kiribati Independence Day

 

Kiribati Independence Day is celebrated annually on July 12th to mark its independence from the United Kingdom, on July 12, 1979. Festivities last for several days as the government sets the dates for several other public holidays like Gospel Day, National Culture Day, and Senior Citizens’ Day during Independence Week. The capital of South Tarawa has the biggest celebration at the Bairiki National Stadium. Colourful parades, traditional dances, canoe races, kite-flying, and other sports competitions form part of the revelry.

History of Kiribati Independence Day

Kiribati is located in the central Pacific Ocean and is part of the division of the Pacific Islands called Micronesia. There are 33 coral islands consisting of the Gilbert Islands, Phoenix Islands, and the Line Islands. Most are atolls or ring-shaped islands with central lagoons, except for Banana in the Gilbert Islands, which is a raised limestone island. Only 21 islands are inhabited, with most of the population concentrated in the Gilbert Islands.

The islands came under European colonial rule almost by accident. Several Europeans just happened to end up there as traders or castaways. It was named after British naval captain Thomas Gilbert who came across the islands in 1788 while sailing from Australia to China. In 1892, Britain declared a protectorate over the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands, now known as Tuvalu. They also annexed Ocean Island, now known as Banaba, with the discovery of phosphate resources. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony was formed in 1916, and over the next 20 years, other island groups were added, including the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands.

Banaban residents started litigation proceedings against the British government to demand compensation for environmental damage caused by phosphate mining as well as recovery of lost phosphate export revenues in 1971. They soon demanded independence in 1975 but the British government refused. The Ellice Islands separated from the colony and eventually became part of Tuvalu. Eventually, the Gilbert Islands were able to establish internal self-government in 1977.

 

 

Naadam festival - 11 to 13 July in Mongolia

 

Naadam is a national festival celebrated every year from 11 to 13 July across Mongolia that focuses on three traditional games: horseracing, wrestling and archery. Mongolian Naadam is inseparably connected to the nomadic civilization of the Mongols, who have long practiced pastoralism on Central Asia’s vast steppe. Oral traditions, performing arts, national cuisine, craftsmanship, and cultural forms such as long song, Khöömei overtone singing, Bie biyelgee dance and Morin khuur fiddle also feature prominently during Naadam. Mongolians follow special rituals and practices during the festival, such as wearing unique costumes and using distinctive tools and sporting items. Festival participants revere the sportsmen, sportswomen, and children who compete, and winners are rewarded titles for their achievements. Ritual praise songs and poems are dedicated to the contestants in the events. Everyone is allowed and encouraged to participate in Naadam, thus nurturing community involvement and togetherness. The three types of sports are directly linked with the lifestyles and living conditions of the Mongols and their transmission is traditionally undertaken through home-schooling by family members, although formalized training regimens have recently developed for wrestling and archery. The rituals and customs of Naadam also accentuate respect for nature and the environment.

Vellore Mutiny in 1806

 

Vellore Mutiny, was an outbreak against the British on July 10, 1806, by sepoys (Indian troops employed by the British) at Vellore (now in Tamil Nadu state, southern India). The incident began when the sepoys broke into the fort where the many sons and daughters of Tippu Sultan of Mysore and their families had been lodged since their surrender at Seringapatam (now Shrirangapattana) in 1799 during the fourth Mysore War.

The July 10 outbreak, though encouraged by the Mysore princes, was basically caused by resentment at new British regulations that ordered changes in headgear and shaving style and the prohibition of ornaments and caste marks for the Indian troops. Little effort was made by the British to reassure the men or listen to their grievances, which included the belief that the regulations were detrimental to the religious practices of both Hindus and Muslims. There were also complaints about the sepoys’ pay. About 130 British troops were killed in the initial assault, but the fort was recovered within hours by a relief force of British soldiers and sepoys under Colonel Robert Gillespie from nearby Arcot. Hundreds of mutineers were killed, either in the fighting or in subsequent executions by the British.

The affair alarmed the British because of its connection with the Mysore princes, who were thereupon removed to Calcutta (now Kolkata). Lord William Bentinck, the governor of Madras (now Chennai), and Sir John Cradock (later John Caradock, 1st Baron Howden), the commander in chief at Madras, were both recalled. It is believed, however, that the severity of punishments meted out by the British—which included tying some of those convicted of mutiny to the barrels of cannons and then firing them—deterred sepoys in southern India from joining the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58.