August 21: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse carved a path across the entire continental United States—an event that hadn't happened in nearly a century.
About August 21
August 21 is a day of profound shifts in global history. In 1192, Minamoto no Yoritomo became the de facto ruler of Japan, inaugurating centuries of shogun-led government. Fast forward to 1770, and James Cook formally claimed eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales and reshaping the map of the Pacific. Centuries later, in 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the executive order welcoming Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state, completing the modern American flag.
The date also bears witness to pivotal acts of courage and resistance. In 1791, enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue, led by Dutty Boukman, held a Vodou ceremony that ignited the Haitian Revolution—the most successful slave rebellion in history. In 1991, Latvia declared the renewal of its full independence after decades of Soviet occupation, a bold move that coincided with the dramatic collapse of a coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow.
From the world of culture and science, August 21 stands out for the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa by a Louvre employee, a crime that made Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece globally famous. In 1944, the Dumbarton Oaks Conference convened in Washington, D.C., laying the essential groundwork for the United Nations. And for those born under the fiery sign of Leo, this date gave the world Count Basie, whose big-band swing defined an era of American music.
Holidays & Observances on August 21
- Ninoy Aquino Day (Philippines)
- Youth Day (Morocco)
- World Senior Citizen's Day
Fun & National Days on August 21
- National Spumoni Day — Treat yourself to a slice of this molded, multi-layered Italian ice cream dessert with candied fruits and nuts.
- National Sweet Tea Day — Pour a tall glass of iced southern comfort and enjoy the simple, refreshing perfection of sweet tea.
- Poet's Day — Celebrate by reading a favorite verse or scribbling down a few stanzas of your own creation.
- National Brazilian Blowout Day
- National Kool-Aid Day
- National Men's Grooming Day
- National Senior Citizens Day
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