February 15 in Pop Culture History

February 15th is…

Annoy Squidward Day was created to pay homage to the beloved character of Squidward Tentacles from the popular Nickelodeon series Spongebob Squarepants. On this day, fans of the show celebrate by playing various pranks and doing activities that annoy him. 

National Flag Day (Mexico): A day to celebrate the flag of Mexico and the country’s history and culture.

National Gumdrop Day is a day to celebrate and enjoy the sweet and chewy candy known as gumdrops. Gumdrops originated in Germany and were brought to the United States by German immigrants.

Hippo Day: A day to celebrate and learn about the hippopotamus and its importance in the ecosystem.

I Want Butterscotch Day: Take a moment to appreciate the delicious, sweet flavor of butterscotch.  Butterscotch is a confectionary made with butter and brown sugar, often supplemented with other ingredients such as corn syrup or cream. It has a rich flavor, and its color can range from light amber to dark brown. The exact origin of butterscotch is contested, but the confection may have originated in either Britain or Scotland during the 19th century. 

Remember the Maine Day commemorates the 1898 sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana Harbor. This event sparked the Spanish-American War, and is often considered to be one of the causes of the beginning of World War I. During this day, people across America honor those who lost their lives in the explosion and remember their service to our nation.

Singles Awareness Day: A light-hearted holiday celebrated on the same day as Valentine’s Day, for those who are not in a romantic relationship.

Comedian Richard Herring created St. Skeletor’s Day. It is dedicated to everyone who did not have a date, nor get any gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Susan B Anthony Day commemorates women’s rights pioneer Susan B. Anthony. Susan B Anthony was a pioneering advocate for women’s rights in the United States. She was a leader in the 19th-century women’s suffrage movement, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, finally allowing women to vote in 1920. Anthony was involved in many other causes, including abolition, labor rights, and temperance. She co-founded the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

1758 – Mustard was first advertised for sale in America by Benjamin Jackson in Philadelphia, PA.

1764 – St. Louis was established in Spanish Louisiana (now in Missouri, USA).

1898 – An explosion sank the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor, killing 260 of the 400 American crew members aboard, sparking the Spanish-American war.

1903 – The first Teddy Bear was introduced in Brooklyn, NY.

1932 – George Burns and Gracie Allen debuted as regulars on The Guy Lombardo Show on CBS radio.

1946 – ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, was formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

1950 – Disney’s Cinderella cartoon feature opened in theaters. It was one of the biggest films of the year and was theatrically re-released several times- 1957, 1965, 1973, 1981, and 1987.

1953 – The first American to win the women’s world figure skating championship was 17-year-old Tenley Albright.

1958 – # 1 Hit February 15, 1958 – March 21, 1958: Elvis Presley – Don’t / I Beg Of You

1961 – The 18-member U.S. figure skating team was killed in a plane crash in Berg-Kampenhout, Belgium. The team was on its way to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

1965 – The flag we know today, the red and white maple leaf, was designed as the new flag of Canada. Before that, the official flag was Britain’s Union Jack.

1975 – # 1 Hit February 15, 1975 – February 21, 1975: Linda Ronstadt – You’re No Good

1986 – # 1 Hit February 15, 1986 – February 29, 1986: Whitney Houston – How Will I Know

1992 – Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison in Milwaukee.

2003 – It was estimated that between 8,000,000-30,000,000 people 1n 600 cities worldwide participated in the protest of the Iraq War; the largest protest in the history of the world.

2005 – YouTube was activated online.

2013 – A meteor exploded in the sky over Russia’s Ural Mountains, near Chelyabinsk, shattering glass and setting off car alarms for miles. Also, asteroid DA14 came with 18,000 miles of Earth.