Uncle Sam Day

On September 13, the United States recognizes Uncle Sam Day to commemorate Sam Wilson, the man behind the iconic image and fascinating nickname for the United States government who was born on September 13, 1766.

The origin of Uncle Sam

·        The War of 1812: During the war, Samuel Wilson was a meatpacker in Troy, New York, who provided barrels of beef to U.S. Army soldiers. 

·        The nickname begins: The barrels were stamped with "U.S." for "United States." Soldiers began joking that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam," the nickname of Samuel Wilson.

·  Spreading the story: The nickname caught on and spread among soldiers, eventually becoming a popular personification of the U.S. government.  

The modern image

The now-famous visual of Uncle Sam—a stern, white-haired gentleman in a red, white, and blue top hat—was popularized decades later: 

Thomas Nast: Cartoonist Thomas Nast helped refine the modern image of Uncle Sam in the 1870s.

James Montgomery Flagg: Artist James Montgomery Flagg's iconic 1917 "I Want You for U.S. Army" recruiting poster cemented the figure in the public imagination. The image is based on a British recruitment poster from World War I featuring Lord Kitchener. 

How the day became official

·     In 1961, the U.S. Congress formally recognized Samuel Wilson as the inspiration for the national symbol of Uncle Sam. 

·    A congressional joint resolution later designated September 13, Samuel Wilson's birthday, as "Uncle Sam Day". 

 

 

National Video Games Day (USA)

 

National Video Games Day is celebrated on September 12th to honour the history, culture, and innovation of video games. While there was a prior observance on July 8th, September 12th is now the recognized date for this holiday. It's a day for gamers to play their favourite titles, connect with others online, visit arcades, or introduce new people to the world of gaming.

History

·  National Video Games Day began as an informal celebration among gaming enthusiasts. 

·    Its origins led to an official observance that has grown in popularity. 

·  The date was established as September 12th to commemorate the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console. 

Significance 

Innovation: The day highlights the technological advancements and creative storytelling within the video game industry. 

Culture: It acknowledges the impact and cultural significance of video games in modern society. 

Community: National Video Games Day celebrates the connections and communities that video games foster among people of all ages. 

How to Celebrate 

·   Play a favourite video game.

·   Host a gaming tournament with friends.

·   Visit a local arcade.

·    Share your gaming experiences on social media using #NationalVideoGamesDay.

·    Introduce a new person to the world of video games.

 

 

 

Mahadevi Verma's Death Anniversary

 

Mahadevi Varma, who passed away on 11 September 1987, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, aged 80, was an Indian Hindi-language poet, essayist and short-story writer. A prominent figure of Hindi literature, Varma is considered one of the four major pillars of the Chhayawadi era in Hindi literature.

Varma published eight collections of poetry between 1930 and 1988, as well as several books containing her essays, speeches, and other prose work. Varma's work depicts her experiences before and after Indian independence, as well as her own work as a social reformer, primarily in the cause of women’s liberation.

She has also been addressed as the modern Meera. Poet Nirālā once called her "Saraswati in the vast temple of Hindi Literature". These works, especially her anthology Deepshikha, greatly influenced both readers and critics.

She developed a soft vocabulary in the Hindi poetry of Khadi Boli, which previously was considered possible only in Braj Bhasha. She was also well-versed in music, and her songs were characterized by a tone that conveyed sharp expressions in a nuanced and euphemistic style.

She started her career as a teacher and went on to become the principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth. Varma chose to live an ascetic life, despite being married. She was also a painter and translator. She received all the major awards in Hindi literature.

As the most celebrated female writer of the last century, she remains highly revered. Her birth centenary was celebrated in 2007. Later, Google also celebrated this day through its Google Doodle.  

 

International Makeup Day

Every year on September 10, International Makeup Day celebrates creativity, self-expression, and the art of beauty. This global occasion shines a spotlight on evolving trends, viral hacks, and makeup techniques that social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

International Sudoku Day

 

International Sudoku Day is celebrated annually on September 9th to recognize the popular logic puzzle and encourage people to engage in brain-stimulating activities. The date, 9/9, was chosen by the World Puzzle Federation to reflect the nine-by-nine grid used in the game. The day promotes cognitive benefits like improved concentration and logical thinking, originating from the 18th-century Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler's "Latin Squares" and developed into the modern puzzle by American designer Howard Garns in the late 1970s.  

Star Trek Day

On September 8th every year, Star Trek enthusiasts celebrate Star Trek Day marking the anniversary of the original series which released on this date in 1966 in the United States. 

Gene Roddenberry who created this show introduced audiences to a completely different universe where unique and various species coexist and explore the cosmos together. 

This day celebrates the franchise's lasting impact on science fiction, pop culture and the imaginations of millions of people across the globe. 

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies aims to build a global community of action, encouraging countries to collaborate in tackling air pollution to protect our ecosystems. This day provides a platform for cooperation at individual, national, regional, and international levels to work together and invest in #CleanAirNow. The United Nations General Assembly designated 7 September as International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in 2019, and the first Day was held in 2020. This designation reflects the global community’s growing awareness of air pollution risks and underscores the necessity of further efforts to improve air quality to safeguard human and environmental health.