27 fun facts for March, 8

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
March 8th is a day filled with significant events, including the annual celebration of International Women's Day, the founding of the New York Stock Exchange, and various notable birthdays and historical moments. From technological advancements to political milestones, March 8th is a day to remember for a diverse array of achievements and breakthroughs.
27 Fun facts
  1. International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th, honoring women's achievements throughout history and across nations without distinction of divisions, whether linguistic, cultural, or political.
  2. March 8th is celebrated as National Peanut Cluster Day in the United States, a day to enjoy the delicious treat made by mixing melted chocolate with peanuts, creating a scrumptious and crunchy snack.
  3. British chess champion Thomas Wilson Barnes was born on March 8th, 1825. He is best known for his record wins against Paul Morphy, one of the greatest chess players of all time.
  4. The New York Stock Exchange, one of the world's largest stock exchanges by market capitalization, was founded on March 8th, 1817, when the organization drafted its constitution.
  5. The cornerstone for the Cotton Memorial in Washington, D.C., was laid on March 8th, 1848. It honors Samuel Slater, an English-American industrialist known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution."
  6. The Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin passed away in Paris on March 8th, 1849. He is considered one of the greatest composers in history and is known for his emotional and expressive piano compositions.
  7. On March 8th, 1911, International Women's Day was first celebrated in Copenhagen, Denmark, with over one million people attending events in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
  8. The St. Francis Dam, northwest of Los Angeles, California, failed on March 8th, 1928, resulting in the deaths of over 400 people due to the massive floodwaters unleashed by the dam's collapse.
  9. March 8th, 1950, marked the debut of the Volkswagen Type 2, also known as the VW Bus or Kombi, an iconic vehicle that became a symbol of the counterculture movement in the 1960s.
  10. Actor and comedian Alan Hale Jr. was born on March 8th, 1921. He is best known for playing the role of the Skipper on the popular television show "Gilligan's Island."
  11. The San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed by the United States, Japan, and 45 other nations on March 8th, 1952, officially ending World War II hostilities between Japan and the Allied Powers.
  12. Eighteen-time Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones, a well-known composer and record producer, was born on March 8th, 1933.
  13. On March 8th, 1975, NASA launched the Ariel 5 satellite, a joint US-UK project aimed at studying cosmic rays and X-rays from celestial sources.
  14. The film "The Godfather," directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on the novel by Mario Puzo, premiered in New York City on March 8th, 1972.
  15. On March 8th, 1979, Philips demonstrated the first compact disc, a revolutionary new format for audio data storage that would soon replace vinyl records and cassette tapes.
  16. The first-ever episode of the animated television series "The Smurfs" aired on March 8th, 1981, introducing the world to the lovable blue characters.
  17. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan referred to the Soviet Union as the "evil empire" for the first time during a speech in Florida on March 8th.
  18. On March 8th, 1986, boxing legend Mike Tyson defeated Hector Mercedes in his professional debut, winning by a first-round knockout.
  19. The World Health Organization declared tuberculosis a global health emergency on March 8th, 1993, as a response to the rising number of cases worldwide.
  20. On March 8th, 1999, the popular television series "The Sopranos" premiered on HBO, showcasing the life of mob boss Tony Soprano and his family.
  21. Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević was arrested for crimes against humanity and genocide on March 8th, 2001, eventually being extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
  22. The art collection of the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was auctioned off for over $484 million, a world record at the time, on March 8th, 2009.
  23. On March 8th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared during its travel from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, sparking one of the most extensive and expensive search operations in aviation history.
  24. In 2017, the "A Day Without a Woman" strike took place on March 8th, with women all around the world protesting for gender equality and labor rights.
  25. Nintendo released its hybrid video game console, the Nintendo Switch, on March 8th, 2017, offering a unique combination of home console and portable gaming experiences.
  26. On March 8th, 2018, the USA Women's Ice Hockey team was awarded the 2018 ESPY Award for the Best Game for their thrilling victory over Canada in the Winter Olympics.
  27. Actress and singer Ava Max topped the UK charts on March 8th, 2019, with her hit single "Sweet But Psycho," becoming the first artist in 2019 to reach the number one spot.

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