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April 26: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

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Facts & Historic Events That Happened on April 26

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April 26th is known as Hug an Australian Day and Pretzel Day.

Welcome to the 117th day of the year! We’re gradually getting through the year, but we still have another 249 days left in 2024.

The history of this day will certainly impress you! Here we’ve hand-picked our most favorite historical events that happened on this special day. Not only that, but we’ve also got some other fun facts about April 26th.

Did you know that on this day in 1954, the first major mass trials of polio vaccines began? Around 443,000 children received shots in its first three months.

Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about April 26th in history!

Events

What memorable events happened on April 26 in history? Keep reading to find out!

2021

A Texas resident narrowly avoided a felony after forgetting to return a VHS rental tape after 22 years.

Caron McBride unknowingly had a copy of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” since 1999. Even though the store had since closed, her record still stated she was guilty of “felony embezzlement.” The case was since dropped, but McBride suspected her record was the reason for difficulty acquiring jobs.

2017

The Handmaid’s Tale debuted on Hulu.

OTD in 2017: The Handmaid's Tale debuted on Hulu.

It starred Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, and Yvonne Strahovski and is based on the book by Margaret Atwood.

2011

The Voice, a reality singing competition television show, premiered on NBC.

1992

Rapper Ice Cube married Kimberly Woodruff.

1986

The Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine exploded, killing 31 people and spreading contamination across Western Europe.

OTD in 1986: The Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine exploded

1982

Great Britain claimed South Georgia Island after Argentina surrendered following the Falklands War.

1982

Singer Rod Stewart was robbed at gunpoint.

He was on Sunset Boulevard, doing some shopping when a gunman asked him for the keys to his 1977 Porsche Turbo-Carrera car.

1962

Ariel 1, the first British-American satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US.

The launch of Ariel 1 made the UK the third nation to operate a satellite, joining the US and the Soviet Union. Ariel 1 was used to measure X-ray energy from solar flares.

1954

The first major mass trials of polio vaccines began.

Around 443,000 children received their shots within the first three months.

1933

The official secret police force of Nazi Germany, the Gestapo, was established.

1915

The Treaty of London was signed by Italy, Britain, France, and Russia.

OTD in 1915: The Treaty of London was signed by Italy

The treaty was to continue an alliance proceeding World War I.

1803

A meteorite shower caused thousands of meteor fragments to fall in L’Aigle, France.

This event convinced European scientists that meteors actually existed.

1564

William Shakespeare was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.

The date of Shakespeare’s birth is unknown; however, historians believe it was shortly before this day.

1514

Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus made his first observation of Saturn.

OTD in 1514: Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus made his first observation of Saturn.

Copernicus later proposed that the sun is stationary and that the Earth and the planets move in circular orbits around it.

Famous Births

Is today your birthday? If so, you share this special day with Channing Tatum! Check out more famous people born on this day below.

1980

Channing Tatum

American

Actor

Channing Tatum

Age:

44 years old

Born In:

Alabama, USA

1970

Melania Trump

Slovene-American

First Lady

Melania Trump

Age:

54 years old

Born In:

Novo Mesto, Slovenia

1967

Kane

American

Wrestler

Kane

Age:

57 years old

Born In:

Madrid, Spain

1977

Tom Welling

American

Actor

Tom Welling

Age:

47 years old

Born In:

New York, USA

Special Holidays

If you can spare some time today, here are some unique holidays you could get involved with.

April 26: National Pretzel Day
United States

National Pretzel Day

While soft pretzels date back to at least 1,000 AD, hard pretzels were only first created in the 1890s in the US, and the great pretzel debate has raged on ever since. So celebrate Pretzel day by baking some of your own or sharing a bag of pretzels with your friends.

April 26: National Hug an Australian Day
International

National Hug an Australian Day

Hugging other people helps build strong relationships; they are warming and display both empathy and compassion. So today, find yourself an Australian to hug, as it’s officially National Hug an Australian Day!

THe Fact Site’s

Fun Fact Of The Day

In 2007, Scotland spent £125,000 devising a new national slogan. The winning entry was: “Welcome to Scotland.”

Birthday & Zodiac

People who were born on April 26 share the Taurus star sign.

Taureans like to be in control, which makes them patient, logical, and well-grounded. They’re big thinkers and will often reflect deeply on many things in life, no matter how big or small. Taurus is an earth sign represented by the bull.

For those of you born in April, you have the Diamond birthstone. Diamonds have been used as decorative items since ancient times. They’re one of the most well-known gemstones in the world.

If your birthday falls on this day, you would’ve likely been conceived around August 3rd in the previous year.

A baby conceived on April 26, 2024, will likely be born around January 17, 2025.

Fact Check

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