February 9: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On February 9, 1964, 73 million Americans tuned in as the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show — still one of the most-watched broadcasts in U.S. television history.
About February 9
February 9 has an outsized footprint in music and sports history. The same date in 1895 saw William G. Morgan invent a game he called Mintonette at a YMCA — the sport the world would come to know as volleyball. Fast-forward to 1964, and four lads from Liverpool stunned a record-setting seventy-three million American viewers with their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, instantly reshaping pop culture on both sides of the Atlantic.
Politically, this day has marked turning points large and small. In 1825, the U.S. House of Representatives settled a deadlocked presidential contest by selecting John Quincy Adams as the nation's sixth chief executive. In 1991, voters in Lithuania decisively chose independence from the crumbling Soviet Union. And in 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant put his signature on legislation creating what would become the National Weather Service.
The faithful also hold February 9 dear. It is the feast day of Saint Apollonia, a third-century martyr revered as the patroness of those suffering from toothaches — a fitting companion to the secular National Toothache Day observed on the same date.
Holidays & Observances on February 9
- Alto of Altomünster
- Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
- Ansbert of Rouen
- Apollonia
- Bracchio
- Einion the King (Western Orthodoxy)
- Blessed Leopold of Alpandeire
- Maron (Maronite Church)
Fun & National Days on February 9
- Chocolate Day — Indulge your sweet tooth with your favorite cocoa creation — no judgment, pure joy.
- National Toothache Day — A quirky reminder to schedule that long-overdue dental checkup you've been avoiding.
- International Epilepsy Day — Raise awareness and show support for the millions worldwide living with seizure disorders.
- Clean Out Your Computer Day — Finally delete those forgotten downloads and give your hard drive some breathing room.
- Pizza Pie Day — Honor the ultimate comfort food by grabbing a hot slice of your favorite pie today.
- National Cut the Cord Day
- National Develop Alternative Vices Day
- National Football Hangover Day
- National Poop Day
- Oatmeal Monday
On This Day in History
- 474 — Zeno receives the imperial crown as co-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, beginning a turbulent reign over the Byzantine world.
- 1621 — Gregory XV ascends to the papacy, going down in history as the final pontiff chosen by the ancient method of acclamation.
- 1775 — The British Parliament formally declares the colony of Massachusetts to be in open rebellion, escalating the American Revolution.
- 1825 — After an electoral-vote deadlock, the U.S. House elects John Quincy Adams as the sixth President in a rare contingent election.
- 1870 — President Ulysses S. Grant signs a congressional joint resolution establishing the United States Weather Bureau.
- 1895 — William G. Morgan invents a YMCA game called Mintonette, a sport that quickly becomes universally known as volleyball.
- 1907 — The NUWSS organizes the Mud March, the first large-scale suffrage procession demanding voting rights for British women.
- 1943 — Allied forces declare Guadalcanal secure after Japan evacuates remaining troops, ending a pivotal Pacific War battle.
- 1964 — The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show before a record-breaking 73 million American viewers, igniting a cultural revolution.
- 1986 — Halley's Comet makes its most recent appearance in the inner Solar System, thrilling skywatchers around the globe.
- 1991 — Lithuanian voters overwhelmingly choose independence from the Soviet Union in a historic referendum on national sovereignty.
- 2018 — The Winter Olympics opening ceremony takes place in Pyeongchang, South Korea, showcasing athletic talent on a global stage.
Famous Birthdays on February 9
- 1737 — Thomas Paine, English-American revolutionary writer whose pamphlets like Common Sense galvanized American independence.
- 1773 — William Henry Harrison, Ninth U.S. President, famous for serving the shortest term in American history after dying just one month after inauguration.
- 1867 — Natsume Sōseki, Celebrated Japanese novelist considered the nation's foremost literary figure of the Meiji era.
- 1909 — Carmen Miranda, Portuguese-Brazilian singer and actress who became a Hollywood icon famous for her extravagant fruit hats.
- 1910 — Jacques Monod, French biochemist awarded the Nobel Prize for groundbreaking discoveries about genetic regulation in cells.
- 1942 — Carole King, American singer-songwriter whose landmark 1971 album Tapestry became one of the best-selling records of all time.
- 1943 — Joe Pesci, Academy Award-winning American actor renowned for unforgettable tough-guy roles in Goodfellas and Home Alone.
- 1945 — Mia Farrow, American actress and activist known for her lead role in Rosemary's Baby and decades of humanitarian work.
- 1979 — Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress who achieved international stardom through acclaimed performances in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
- 1981 — Tom Hiddleston, English actor globally recognized for portraying the trickster god Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.