March 11: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence—a bold move that helped unravel an empire.
About March 11
March 11 has a habit of marking moments when people seize control of their own destiny. Lithuania's 1990 Declaration of Restoration of Independence from the Soviet Union stands as a watershed: the first Soviet republic to break away, setting off a chain reaction that would dissolve the USSR. Chile, too, has turned this date into a recurring symbol of democratic renewal, swearing in Patricio Aylwin in 1990 and Michelle Bachelet in 2006.
The date also carries a rich cultural and journalistic lineage. In 1702, England's first national daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, hit the presses, forever changing how information flowed. Exactly 149 years later, Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto premiered in Venice, launching one of opera's most beloved works. And in 1851, Verdi gave the world "La donna è mobile"—a melody so catchy that singers reportedly had to keep it secret before opening night to prevent street vendors from whistling it first.
For Pisces natives, this date produced an extraordinary cluster of creative and intellectual firepower: composer Astor Piazzolla, who revolutionized tango; author Douglas Adams, who sent readers hitchhiking through the galaxy; and Bobby McFerrin, whose four-octave voice redefined what a singer could be. The fish sign's blend of intuition and artistry runs deep on March 11.
Holidays & Observances on March 11
- Day of Restoration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 (Lithuania)
- Moshoeshoe Day (Lesotho)
- Saudi Flag Day
Fun & National Days on March 11
- Johnny Appleseed Day — Honor the legendary tree-planter by enjoying an apple or planting something green.
- National "Eat Your Noodles" Day — Slurp your favorite pasta or ramen with zero guilt—it's practically mandatory today.
- Dream Day — Take a moment to revisit a big aspiration or share a nighttime dream with someone.
- Debunking Day
- National 311 Day
- National Promposal Day
- No Smoking Day (UK)
- Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day
- World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film
On This Day in History
- 843 — Empress Theodora II reinstates the veneration of religious icons across Byzantine Orthodox churches, ending a decades-long iconoclast controversy.
- 1702 — The Daily Courant debuts in England, becoming the country's first national daily newspaper and pioneering regular news publishing.
- 1851 — Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto receives its first performance in Venice, premiering one of the most celebrated works in operatic history.
- 1888 — The Great Blizzard of 1888 strikes the U.S. eastern seaboard, paralyzing commerce and claiming over 400 lives along the Atlantic coast.
- 1917 — Anglo-Indian forces under General Frederick Stanley Maude capture Baghdad during the Mesopotamian campaign of World War I.
- 1941 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act, authorizing American war materiel to be loaned to Allied nations fighting Axis powers.
- 1985 — Mikhail Gorbachev is elected General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, becoming the USSR's de facto and final head of state.
- 1990 — Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union, the first republic to do so and a pivotal step toward the USSR's collapse.
- 2003 — The International Criminal Court convenes its inaugural session in The Hague, establishing a permanent tribunal for war crimes and genocide.
- 2011 — A 9.0-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's coast near Sendai, triggering a devastating tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
- 2020 — The World Health Organization officially declares the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, transforming global public health and daily life.
Famous Birthdays on March 11
- 1544 — Torquato Tasso, Italian Renaissance poet whose epic Jerusalem Delivered influenced European literature for centuries.
- 1811 — Urbain Le Verrier, French astronomer who predicted Neptune's existence through mathematical calculations before it was observed.
- 1818 — Marius Petipa, French-Russian choreographer who shaped classical ballet, creating Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty.
- 1916 — Harold Wilson, British Labour Prime Minister who led the UK through major social reforms in the 1960s and 1970s.
- 1921 — Astor Piazzolla, Argentine composer and bandoneon virtuoso who revolutionized tango with nuevo tango compositions.
- 1931 — Rupert Murdoch, Australian-American media mogul who built one of the world's largest and most influential news empires.
- 1950 — Bobby McFerrin, American vocalist and conductor with a four-octave range, known for the hit Don't Worry, Be Happy.
- 1952 — Douglas Adams, English author whose Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy blended science fiction with absurdist humor.