01 March - Heroes' Day (Paraguay)

 

Paraguay observes Heroes' Day (Día de los Héroes) on March 1st. Heroes' Day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in the Paraguayan War (1864–1870), also known as the War of the Triple Alliance.

The War of the Triple Alliance involved Paraguay against a coalition of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Paraguay suffered significant losses, including a large percentage of its population, during this conflict. Heroes' Day is a national holiday in Paraguay, and various ceremonies, events, and commemorations take place to honor and remember the heroes who fought for their country during the war.

 

29 February - USA celebrates National Toast Day

 

National Toast Day is celebrated on the last Thursday in February and this year, it takes place on February 29. It pays homage to a food that is oft-ignored but has an oh-so-important role to play when it comes to breakfast, brunch, or even snacking purposes.

National Toast Day was first observed in 2014, in the U.K. It was established by Tiptree World Bread Awards, with Brook Food, to celebrate the country’s love of toast and all the varieties of bread that can be used to make toast. Indeed, we’d go so far as to say that a love for toast is probably universal, as far as bread-consuming nations go, which is why its popularity has spread to the U.S. too. Our aim is to spread the word so that National Toast Day can be celebrated all around the world; after all, toast is something many of us may want to celebrate all day, every day!

29 February - Rare Disease Day

 

Rare Disease Day is an annual observance held on the last day of February each year. It was established to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on people's lives. The date, February 28th (or February 29th in leap years), was chosen because it's a rare day on the calendar.

The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to improve understanding among the general public, policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals about rare diseases and their impact on patients' lives. The day also aims to advocate for access to treatment and medical representation for those with rare diseases.

Various events, campaigns, and activities take place worldwide on Rare Disease Day to promote awareness and support for individuals and families affected by rare diseases. Many patient organizations, advocacy groups, and healthcare institutions participate in these efforts to shed light on the challenges faced by those living with rare conditions.

 

29 February - Rukmini Devi Arundale birth anniversary

Rukmini Devi Arundale (29 February 1904 – 24 February 1986) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and an activist for animal rights and welfare.

She was the first woman in Indian history to be nominated a member of the Rajya Sabha. The most important revivalist of Bharatanatyam from its original 'sadhir' style prevalent amongst the temple dancers, the Devadasis, she also worked for the reestablishment of traditional Indian arts and crafts.

She espoused the cause of Bharata Natyam which was considered a vulgar art. She 'sanitised' and removed the inherent eroticism of Sadhir to make it palatable to Victorian British morality and Indian upper caste elites.

Rukmini Devi features in India Today's list of '100 People Who Shaped India'. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956,[4] and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1967.

29 February - Morarji Ranchhodji Desai born 29 February 1896

Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (29 February 1896 – 10 April 1995) was an Indian independence activist and served between 1977 and 1979 as the 4th Prime Minister of India and led the government formed by the Janata Party. During his long career in politics, he held many important posts in government such as Chief Minister of Bombay State, Home Minister, Finance Minister and 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of India.

28 February - Auroville, an experimental township was inaugurated in Tamil Nadu in 1968

 

Auroville, an experimental township in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was inaugurated on February 28, 1968, but it was not associated with the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry.

Auroville was founded by Mirra Alfassa, known as "The Mother," who was a spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo. The inauguration of Auroville marked the vision of creating a universal town where people from different cultures and backgrounds could live together in peace and harmony.

The Aurobindo Ashram, on the other hand, was founded by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother in Pondicherry. It is a spiritual community and ashram that has been an important center for spiritual practice, philosophy, and education.

 

28 February - National Floral Design Day

 

National Floral Design Day is celebrated in the United States on February 28th each year. This day is dedicated to appreciating the art and beauty of floral design. It is an opportunity to recognize the skill and creativity of floral designers who use flowers to create stunning arrangements for various occasions, including weddings, parties, and other events.

On National Floral Design Day, people may visit florists, take floral design classes, or simply appreciate and enjoy the beauty of flowers. It's a day to acknowledge the importance of floral designers in bringing color, fragrance, and visual appeal to different settings. Whether through bouquets, centerpieces, or other arrangements, floral designers play a significant role in enhancing the aesthetics of various occasions.

 

28 February - Discovery of the structure of DNA

 

On 28 February 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson, along with Maurice Wilkins, made a groundbreaking discovery at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. They unraveled the structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. This discovery laid the foundation for understanding the genetic code and the mechanisms of inheritance, marking a pivotal moment in the history of molecular biology.

28 February - Kalevala Day, also known as the Finnish Culture Day (Finland)

 

Kalevala Day, also known as Kalevala's Day (Finnish: Kalevalan päivä), is a national holiday in Finland celebrated annually on February 28th. This date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Elias Lönnrot, the compiler of the Kalevala, which is the national epic of Finland.

The Kalevala is a collection of Finnish folklore and mythology, originally published in the 19th century. Elias Lönnrot played a crucial role in collecting and compiling the poems and stories that make up the Kalevala, and his work is celebrated on Kalevala Day.

On Kalevala Day, various events and activities take place across Finland to honor the country's cultural heritage, especially the Kalevala. These may include readings, performances, and exhibitions related to Finnish folklore and mythology. The day is an opportunity for Finns to appreciate and celebrate their national epic and the rich cultural traditions it represents.

 

28 February - Rajendra Prasad passed away 1963

 

Rajendra Prasad (3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was an Indian politician, lawyer, Indian independence activist, journalist & scholar who served as the first president of Republic of India from 1950 to 1962.He joined the Indian National Congress during the Indian Independence Movement and became a major leader from the region of Bihar and Maharashtra. A supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad was imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942. After the constituent assembly 1946 elections, Prasad served as Minister of Food and Agriculture in the central government. Upon independence in 1947, Prasad was elected as President of the Constituent Assembly of India, which prepared the Constitution of India and served as its provisional Parliament.

When India became a republic in 1950, Prasad was elected as its first president by the Constituent Assembly. As president, Prasad established a tradition for non - partisanship and independence for the office-bearer and retired from Congress party politics. Although a ceremonial head of state, Prasad encouraged the development of education in India and advised the Nehru government on several occasions. In 1957, Prasad was re-elected to the presidency, becoming the only president to serve two full terms.Prasad stayed in office for the longest term of around 12 years. Post the completion of his tenure, he quit the Congress and set up new guidelines for parliamentarians which are still followed.