International Holocaust Remembrance Day – This day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust during World War II, and promotes education and remembrance to prevent future genocides.
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust – This day was established by the United Nations to coincide with the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by Soviet forces in 1945.
National Chocolate Cake Day (USA) – This day celebrates the delicious dessert made from chocolate, flour, sugar, and other ingredients.
Family Literacy Day (Canada) – This day promotes literacy and learning within families, and highlights the importance of reading and education for all.
Thomas Crapper Day – This day celebrates the life and contributions of Thomas Crapper, a British plumber who is often credited with inventing the modern flush toilet.
661 – Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, is assassinated in Iraq, leading to the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
1756 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the greatest composers in history, is born in Salzburg, Austria.
1825 – The U.S. Congress approves the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) for resettlement of Native American tribes.
1945 – The Soviet Red Army liberates the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.
1967 – Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee die in a fire during a test of the Apollo 1 spacecraft.
1973 – The Paris Peace Accords are signed, officially ending the Vietnam War.
1984 – Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album is released, becoming the best-selling album of all time.
2010 – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Haiti, causing widespread destruction and killing over 200,000 people.
2020 – The United States confirms its first case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
