Today is Constitution Day in Spain. The holiday marks the approval of the Spanish Constitution by the Spanish people in 1978.
As part of the Spanish transition to democracy after the death, in 1975, of dictator Francisco Franco who had ruled Spain since 1939, a general election took place in 1977 to convene the Cortes Generales (Parliament) for the purpose of drafting and approving a constitution (this is called Cortes Constituyentes).
The Constitution was approved by the Cortes on October 31st 1978, and by the Spanish people in a referendum on December 6th 1978, before being promulgated by King Juan Carlos on December 27th.
Today is the birthday, in 1920, of Dave Brubeck, jazz pianist, (1962 UK No.12 album ‘Time Further Out’). Brubeck died of heart failure one day before his 92nd birthday on December 5, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHdU5sHigYQ
Today is Laos National Day. This day marks the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975.
By the twentieth century, Lao had become a French protectorate. Following the end of World War II, resistance to French control grew and the Pathet Lao resistance organization was formed by the Indochinese Communist Party. The armed struggle against occupation was known as the First Indochina War, and it resulted in Lao gaining independence as a constitutional monarchy under King Sisavang Phoulivong in October 1953.
The opposing views of the Pathet La and the royalist forces led to a long civil war in Lao. In 1975, with the support of North Vietnam and the Soviet Union, the Pathet Lao gained the upper hand in the conflict, and on December 2nd 1975, they overthrew the royalist Lao government and forced King Savang Vatthana to abdicate. On the same day, the Pathet Lao government under Kaysone Phomvihane renamed the country as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The last supper…
Columbia Record Club…
Nostalgia
Today is the birthday, in 1944, of American musician, singer, and songwriter Dennis Wilson who co-founded The Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their drummer and as the middle brother of bandmates Brian and Carl Wilson. (1966 UK & US No.1 single ‘Good Vibrations’, plus over 25 other UK Top 40 singles). Wilson drowned while swimming from his boat moored in Marina Del Rey, California on 28th December 1983 after a heavy day’s drinking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcrbDYe4qL4
Today is Farmers Day in Ghana, a public holiday. The holiday is intended to recognize the significance of agriculture and fishing in Ghana’s economic growth. Open gatherings are organized in the 16 regions across Ghana to award prizes to deserving farmers and fishers as far as best practices and outputs are concerned.
Since it was introduced by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1988, the first Friday in December has been set aside to honor farmers and fishermen for their efforts in feeding the nation and recognize the vital contributions of a strong agricultural sector to the prosperity of the Ghanaian economy.
This holiday reflects the importance of agriculture in Ghana. According to the CIA World Factbook, Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders.
It’s true – I saw it on the news.. or was that the Hallmark Channel…
Today is Martyr’s Day, a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates. On 19 August 2015, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed declared that 30 November each year will be a national holiday called Martyrs’ Day to mark the sacrifice of those who died for the UAE in the line of duty.
The United Arab Emirates is an elective monarchy formed from a federation of seven emirates, consisting of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Each emirate is an absolute monarchy governed by a ruler, and together the rulers form the Federal Supreme Council. In 2020, the country had a population of 9.28 million. Emiratis are estimated to form 11.6% of the UAE population with the remaining being expatriates.
I know many people like this…
maybe same day
The holidays are coming up. Time to send that awkward family photo!
Today is the birthday, in 1915, of American folk music and blues singer and guitarist, Brownie McGhee. He is best known for his collaboration with the harmonica player Sonny Terry. McGhee died of stomach cancer on 16 February 1996 in Oakland, California, aged 80. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3KOaJvly4
Today is William Tubman’s Day, a public holiday in Liberia. This holiday honors William Tubman, the longest-serving President in Liberia’s history on the anniversary of his birthday.
William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman was born on November 29th 1895, in the coastal town of Harper. At birth he was one of 5 children who had grown up poor. He was also a descendant of early American slaves. Tubman’s grandfather, Alexander Tubman, was a stonemason, general in the Liberian army, and a former Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives, as well as a Methodist preacher. Alexander’s parents, Sylvia and William Shadrach Tubman, were freedmen, part of a group of 69 freed slaves whose transportation to Liberia in 1844 was paid by their former mistress Emily Thomas Tubman, a widow and philanthropist in Augusta, Georgia. She was instrumental in the manumission of enslaved African Americans and paying for their transportation to Liberia for “repatriation”.
William Tubman joined the True Whig party and in 1923, aged 28, he became the youngest senator in the history of Liberia. He became the 17th different President of Liberia in January 1944, aged 48, and went to on to serve for 27 years until his death on July 23rd 1971.
Regarded as the “father of modern Liberia”, he was responsible for enacting many reforms and social policies such as the enactment of suffrage and property rights for all adult females and the establishment of a nationwide public school system. Tubman also pushed a policy of national unification by improving the rights of all tribesmen and contributed to the emancipation of African colonial territories into statehood.
Tubman’s legacy also includes his economic “Open Door” policy which increased foreign investment in Liberia. By the time of his death, Liberia could boast the largest mercantile fleet in the world and the world’s largest rubber industry, making the country the envy of many other African nations.
Today is the birthday, in 1941, of Denny Doherty, from American folk rock vocal group The Mamas & the Papas who had the 1965 hit ‘California Dreamin”, the 1966 US No.1 single ‘Monday Monday’ and the 1967 hit ‘Dedicated to the One I Love’. Doherty died on 19th Jan 2007 at the age of 66 after a short illness. Doherty started his musical career in 1956 with a band called the Hepsters and in 1963, established a friendship with Cass Elliot when she was with a band called The Big 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUr5_QVPCAI
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