July 18 Holidays

National Caviar Day celebrates the salt-cured roe of sturgeon, a fish whose population has been devastated by overfishing — today, beluga sturgeon caviar can sell for more than $200 per ounce, and all three species of beluga sturgeon are listed as critically endangered. Nelson Mandela International Day marks July 18, 1918, the birthday of Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for his opposition to apartheid and emerged to become South Africa’s first democratically elected president, serving as a global symbol of reconciliation and moral leadership. National Sour Candy Day celebrates the citric-acid-coated candy whose tartness triggers the same salivation response as actual sour foods, creating a pleasurable sensory dissonance. Insurance Nerd Day was created by an insurance industry association to celebrate the professionals who design and manage risk transfer products. Fish eggs, 27 years of moral clarity, citric acid, and actuarial tables.