February 9th History, Trivia, and Fun FactsTable of Contents |
February 9th History Highlights |
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Pizza Pie Day |
Naples, Italy is often credited as the birthplace of pizza. Though flatbreads with toppings were consumed by ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks, Naples took the simple dish and turned it into an art form. The first pizzas were made in the 1700s and early 1800s by Naples’ working poor, or lazzaroni. These pies were typically very thin-crusted and loaded with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, mozzarella, olives, and anchovies. Today, pizza is enjoyed all over the world and comes in many different varieties. Whether it’s a classic Margherita or something more adventurous like Pizza Hawaii, there’s a slice for everyone. So the next time you’re feeling hungry, why not grab a pizza? You won’t be disappointed. Some popular pizzas include:
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Chocolate Day |
We all know that chocolate is a delicious treat, but did you know that the ancient Mayans were the first to make it into a drink? This sweet but bitter foodstuff was reserved for royalty and consumed with dignity as they could afford only luxuries like this. The Olmecs of Mexico’s south discovered how to make cocoa beans into a beverage around 1500 BC – over 3500 years ago! From there it spread throughout South America before making its way northward towards Peru. There are many stories about how chocolate made its way around the world. One story says Christopher Columbus discovered cacao beans after intercepting a trade ship on a journey to America and brought the beans back to Spain with him in 1502. Another tale states Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes was introduced to chocolate by the Aztecs of Montezuma’s court. After returning to Spain, cacao beans in tow, he supposedly kept his chocolate knowledge a well-guarded secret. A third story claims that friars who presented Guatemalan Mayans to Philip II of Spain in 1544 also brought cacao beans along as a gift. Swiss chocolatiers created milk chocolate in 1875. Prior to that, all chocolate was dark chocolate. In Europe chocolate was once considered an aphrodisiac. More chocolate is consumed in the United States than in any other country. Antioxidants in cocoa can improve cardiovascular health. Cocoa also contains flavonoids which can improve cognitive function chocolate has been shown to reduce stress levels and help you feel happier. Fun Facts about this delicious treat:
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February 9th is… |
| Chocolate Day National Develop Alternative Voices Day National Toothache Day Pizza (Pie) Day Read in a Bathtub Day |
February 9th Birthday Quotes |
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they’re close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can’t we see the humanity in people that are distant from us? You just call out my name He knew he was good but did he know he was the best ever? Did he know he taught millions of artists how to dream? He never repeated a drawing. He always created anew, discovering again and again what it meant to create, to be a true artist that copied no one, not even himself. A world without Frank Frazetta makes no sense. No one like him will ever appear again. Remember him well. It’s not what you do. It’s the way you do it-stripping or writing or talking… or just breathing. Do it with air, and never admit you’re scared. The real danger of writing a great song when you’re on something is that it might get you thinking that the only way to repeat that is by only writing when you’re high. If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. In this life, to earn your place you have to fight for it. Too many managers manage by what the postgame press conference is going to be. |
February 9th Birthdays |
| 1737 – Thomas Paine, English-American philosopher, author, and activist (died in 1809) 1773 – William Henry Harrison, American general and politician, 9th President of the United States (died in 1841) 1800 – Hyrum Smith, American religious leader (died in 1844) 1874 – Amy Lowell, American poet, critic and educator (died in 1925) 1892 – Peggy Wood, American actress (died in 1978) 1914 – Gypsy Rose Lee (Rose Louise Hovick), American burlesque entertainer (died in 1970) 1914 – Ernest Tubb, American singer-songwriter (died in 1984) 1928 – Frank Frazetta, American painter and illustrator (died in 2010) 1939 – Barry Mann, American pianist, songwriter, and producer 1942 – Carole King, American singer-songwriter 1943 – Barbara Lewis, American soul/R&B singer-songwriter 1943 – Joe Pesci, American actor 1945 – Mia Farrow, American actress 1946 – Jim Webb, American politician 1949 – Judith Light, American actress 1954 – Jo Duffy, American comic book writer 1957 – Terry McAuliffe, American politician 1961 – John Kruk, American baseball player and sportscaster 1963 – Travis Tritt, American country singer 1977 – Shakira Ripoll, Columbian singer 1979 – Ziyi Zhang – Chinese actress 1979 – Mema Suvari, American actress 1981 – Tom Hiddleston, English actor 1987 – Michael B. Jordan, American actor 1992 – Avan Jogia, Canadian actor |
February 9th History |
1825 – The U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president since no candidate had received a majority of electoral votes. 1861 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis was elected the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America by the Confederate convention at Montgomery, Alabama. 1870 – The weather service, now named the National Weather Service (NWS) was authorized by Congress. 1889 – The United States Department of Agriculture was established 1895 – William G. Morgan, a Holyoke, MA, YMCA physical education director, invented the game of volleyball. 1900 – The Davis Cup tennis competition was established. 1902 – Doctor Eugène-Louis Doyen of Paris, performed a successful operation separating Siamese freakshow twins (Radhika and Dodika), from the Barnum and Bailey Circus, apart. 1913 – The 1913 Great Meteor Procession took place over the eastern section of North America. 1942 – ‘War Time’ Daylight-savings went into effect in the US. 1957 – #1 Hit February 9, 1957 – March 1, 1957: Elvis Presley – Too Much 1960 – Adolph Coors was kidnapped and later killed by Joe Corbett while driving to work from his Morrison, Colorado, home. 1961 – The Beatles debuted at Liverpool’s Cavern. 1963 – #1 Hit February 9, 1963 – March 1, 1963: Paul & Paula – Hey Paula 1964 – The Beatles appeared in the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time. 1969 – The Boeing 747 flew its inaugural flight. 1971 – Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 1974 – #1 Hit February 9, 1974 – March 1, 1974: Love Unlimited Orchestra – Love’s Theme 1986 – Halley’s Comet last appeared in the inner Solar System, next appearing in 2061. 1991 – #1 Hit February 9, 1991 – February 22, 1991: C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) 1997- The Simpsons made television history with their episode “The Itchy, Scratchy and Poochie Show” which they then surpassed the Flintstones as the longest-running prime-time cartoon series in terms of episodes aired. |
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts |
| Showgirls still holds the record for most Razzie nominations with 13. One of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, in Iraq?, referred to in the mid 500s BC “I’m walking here! I’m walking here!” – “Ratso” Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) in Midnight Cowboy, 1969 In the scene in “Alien” when the alien pops out of John Hurt’s stomach, the actors were not told it was going to happen. John Williams, the person who composed the scores of Star Wars and Harry Potter, also composed and conducted the music of Home Alone. Biggest film of 1982: ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Drama) earned ~ $435,000,000 Marvel’s Deadpool Wade Wilson was originally created as a spoof of DC’s Deathstroke Slade Wilson. “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan There’s no money in scientific data gathering, there’s lots of money in data interpretation, and there’s ungodly money in data distortion. “The time to change was yesterday; the time to wake up is now.” – Judge Judy A group of Eagles is called a Convocation or Aerie. This generation won’t have old school cool… they’ll have an old school selfie. Or worse, old school duckface. Orgasmatron – from Woody Allen’s SLEEPER. A sex machine The pound/hashtag sign # is called an Octothorp. |
More Pop Culture History Resources |
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