March 26: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On March 26, 1979, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, and Jimmy Carter signed the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington—a diplomatic breakthrough that reshaped the Middle East.
About March 26
March 26 has a remarkable habit of producing diplomatic milestones and bold declarations. Beyond that historic 1979 handshake on the White House lawn, the date saw the signing of the Treaty of Asunción in 1991, which established Mercosur and tied the economies of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay together. A decade earlier, in 1971, East Pakistan declared its independence from Pakistan, launching the Bangladesh War of Independence and giving rise to a new nation.
The day also resonates with cultural firsts. In 1484, William Caxton printed his English translation of Aesop's Fables, feeding a growing hunger for literature among everyday readers. Three and a half centuries later, the Book of Mormon rolled off a press in Palmyra, New York, in 1830, founding a religious movement that would spread across the globe. And in a lighter vein, 1812 gave the English language the word "gerrymander," born from a Boston political cartoon mocking oddly drawn voting districts.
Those born on March 26 seem to share a streak of creative fire and trailblazing ambition. From the enduring verse of Robert Frost and Tennessee Williams' unforgettable stage dramas to Diana Ross's unmistakable voice and Larry Page's world-altering algorithm, Aries energy has never been in short supply on this day.
Holidays & Observances on March 26
- Christian feast days: Barontius and Desiderius
- Christian feast days: Castulus
- Christian feast days: Emmanuel and companions
- Christian feast days: Felicitas
- Christian feast days: Harriet Monsell (Church of England)
- Christian feast days: Larissa
- Christian feast days: Ludger
- Christian feast days: Maddalena Caterina Morano
Fun & National Days on March 26
- Equal Pay Day — A serious reminder to advocate for wage fairness—perfect for reviewing whether your workplace truly pays equally.
- National Nougat Day — Indulge in this chewy, nut-studded confection that has delighted sweet-toothed snackers for centuries.
- National Spinach Day — Channel your inner Popeye and pile on the leafy greens for a vitamin-packed celebration of this humble vegetable.
- Purple Day — Wear something purple to show support for epilepsy awareness and help educate others about seizure disorders.
- National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day — Invent a celebration for anything you love—there are no rules, only your imagination and enthusiasm.
- Legal Assistants Day
- Solitude Day
- Spinach Festival Day
On This Day in History
- 1027 — Pope John XIX placed the imperial crown on Conrad II's head, formally investing him as Holy Roman Emperor in a centuries-old tradition of church-state ceremony.
- 1169 — Saladin was named emir of Egypt, a pivotal ascent that positioned him to unify Muslim forces and eventually confront the Crusader states.
- 1484 — English printer William Caxton produced his own translation of Aesop's Fables, making the classic tales widely accessible to literate Tudor-era readers.
- 1636 — Utrecht University opened its doors in the Netherlands, establishing what would become one of Europe's most distinguished centers of learning.
- 1812 — A cartoonist in the Boston-Gazette coined "gerrymander" to mock bizarrely shaped electoral districts drawn to protect incumbents, adding a lasting word to the political lexicon.
- 1830 — The first copies of the Book of Mormon were published in Palmyra, New York, launching the foundational scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement.
- 1839 — The inaugural Henley Royal Regatta was held, launching a rowing tradition on the Thames that endures as a highlight of the British sporting calendar.
- 1931 — Swissair was established as Switzerland's national airline, beginning decades of service that would make it a symbol of Alpine precision and reliability.
- 1971 — East Pakistan declared itself the independent nation of Bangladesh, triggering a war of liberation against Pakistan that lasted until December.
- 1975 — The Biological Weapons Convention entered into force, binding signatory nations to prohibit the development and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons.
- 1979 — Egypt's Anwar Sadat, Israel's Menachem Begin, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington, the first such accord between Israel and an Arab neighbor.
- 1991 — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay signed the Treaty of Asunción, creating Mercosur, a South American common market aimed at free trade and regional integration.
Famous Birthdays on March 26
- 1859 — A. E. Housman, English classical scholar and poet whose lyrical collection A Shropshire Lad captured a bittersweet vision of English rural life.
- 1874 — Robert Frost, Beloved American poet whose deceptively simple verses on rural New England life earned him four Pulitzer Prizes and a lasting place in the canon.
- 1911 — Tennessee Williams, American playwright whose emotionally charged dramas, including A Streetcar Named Desire, transformed the mid-century American stage.
- 1930 — Sandra Day O'Connor, American jurist who made history in 1981 as the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
- 1931 — Leonard Nimoy, American actor whose portrayal of the logic-bound half-Vulcan Spock on Star Trek became an enduring pop-culture icon.
- 1934 — Alan Arkin, Versatile American actor and director whose decades-long career spanned from The Russians Are Coming to an Academy Award-winning turn in Little Miss Sunshine.
- 1944 — Diana Ross, American singer who rose from the Supremes to solo superstardom, helping define the Motown sound and becoming a global entertainment icon.
- 1948 — Steven Tyler, Flamboyant American frontman of Aerosmith whose raspy vocals and boundless stage energy made him one of rock's most recognizable figures.
- 1950 — Martin Short, Canadian-American comedian and actor beloved for his manic characters and razor-sharp improv on SCTV, Saturday Night Live, and film.
- 1973 — Larry Page, American computer scientist who co-founded Google, building a search engine that reshaped how humanity accesses information.