World Tennis Day

 

Every year on the first Monday in March, World Tennis Day is celebrated, and as such this year, on March 4. On this day, we are learning all there is to know about this interesting sport. 

The origins of tennis go all the way back to the 12th century. During this time, European monks had developed a handball game called "paume." Later, instead of hitting the ball with the hand, leather gloves were used. These gloves eventually evolved into racquets. 

The International Tennis Federation organized the first World Tennis Day on March 4, 2013. About 60 countries participated in the event. The event coincided with a one-night tennis exhibition that took place in Madison Square Garden from 2008 through 2017. The event kicked off the tennis season in North America. During the same time frame, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) held tennis clinics across the country. Even though the one-night tennis exhibition no longer takes place, World Tennis Day is still celebrated in 90 countries around the world. 

On the occasion of World Tennis Day, I share a Minisheet of Belgium issued for the 2008 Olympic Games - Beijing, China. The Minisheet depicts top female Belgian tennis stars, Justine Henin (top) and Kim Clijsters (below) pitted against each other on court. The commemorative postage stamp on the same depicts a tennis racquet and ball. 

 

 

Alexander Graham Bell Birth Anniversary

Alexander Graham Bell born Alexander Bell; on 3 March 1847 was a Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor, scientist and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. He also co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885.

Bell's father, grandfather, and brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech, and both his mother and wife were deaf; profoundly influencing Bell's life's work. His research on hearing and speech further led him to experiment with hearing devices which eventually culminated in Bell being awarded the first U.S. patent for the telephone, on  7 March 1876. Bell considered his invention an intrusion on his real work as a scientist and refused to have a telephone in his study.

Many other inventions marked Bell's later life, including groundbreaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils, and aeronautics. Bell also had a strong influence on the National Geographic Society and its magazine while serving as the second president from 7 January 1898, until 1903.

Beyond his work in engineering, Bell had a deep interest in the emerging science of heredity. His work in this area has been called "the soundest, and most useful study of human heredity proposed in nineteenth-century America... Bell's most notable contribution to basic science, as distinct from invention.

World Wildlife Day

 

World Wildlife Day, an annual global event observed on March 3 serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving our planet's biodiversity. Established by the United Nations General Assembly, this day is dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent need to protect wildlife and their habitats. With each passing year, World Wildlife Day inspires individuals, communities, and organizations worldwide to come together in a unified effort to safeguard the delicate balance of ecosystems and ensure the survival of diverse species.

World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3. This year, 2024, marks the 11th celebration of this global event dedicated to raising awareness about the world's wild animals and plants.

The theme for World Wildlife Day 2024 is "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation."

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on March 3, 1973. CITES is an international treaty aimed at regulating the trade of endangered species to ensure their survival in the wild.

The inaugural World Wildlife Day was celebrated on March 3, 2014, marking the beginning of an annual tradition to advocate for the protection of wildlife worldwide. Since then, it has grown into a global movement involving governments, organizations, and individuals committed to wildlife conservation.

 

World Wildlife Day holds immense significance in the ongoing battle to safeguard biodiversity and combat environmental degradation. Wildlife plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, pollination, seed dispersal, and regulating pest populations. Furthermore, many communities rely on wildlife for their livelihoods, food security, and cultural practices.

However, wildlife faces numerous threats, including habitat loss, climate change, poaching, illegal trade, pollution, and human-wildlife conflict. World Wildlife Day provides a platform to raise awareness about these challenges and mobilize efforts to address them effectively.

Dr. Seuss Birth Anniversary

 

Theodor Seuss Geisel, born on 2 March 1904, was an American children's author and cartoonist. He is known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 boos under the pen name Dr. Seuss. His work includes many of the most popular children's books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.

Pope Pius XII Birth Anniversary

Pius XII, born on 2 March 1876 in Rome, Italy was pope, bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church, who had a long, tumultuous, and controversial pontificate (1939–58). During his reign as pope, the papacy confronted the ravages of World War II (1939–45), the abuses of the Nazi, fascist, and Soviet regimes, the horror of the Holocaust, the challenge of postwar reconstruction, and the threat of communism and the Cold War. Deemed an ascetic and "saint of God"  by his admirers, Pius was criticized by others for his alleged “public silence” in the face of genocide and his apparently contradictory policies of impartiality during World War II but fervent anticommunism during the postwar period.

Sarojini Naidu Death Anniversary

Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India, passed away on 2 March 1949 (aged 70) in Lucknow, India. She has many firsts to her credit, including being the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state. The eldest daughter of Aghornath Chattopadhyaya and Barada Sundari Devi, she was fluent in many languages.

International Rescue Cat Day

 

International Rescue Cat Day observed annually on 2 March since 2019, celebrates and raises awareness for rescue cats, as well as for the shelters and centers they come from. Founded by Yorkshire Cat Rescue, it takes place during International Rescue Cat Month. More people get their cats from shelters than anywhere else.

By adopting a cat from a shelter, you're not only giving that cat a chance at a new life, but you're also making room for another cat at the shelter that needs help.