World Photo Day is on August 19 and it celebrates the day when the French government purchased the patent for the daguerreotype process. The daguerreotype process is a photographic process that creates highly detailed images on a sheet of copper plate with a thin coat of silver. The day requires participants to share a photo of their world, which can be anything the photographer chooses. The definition of photography is quite literally “drawing the light” and British scientist Sir John Herschel came up with it in 1839. He used the Greek word phōtós, which means “light” and graphê which means “drawing or writing”.
National Chimichanga Day
National Chimichanga Day is on September 26 and it’s an opportunity to celebrate one of the greatest culinary accidents in history—the deep-fried goodness that is the chimichanga. Created in 1946—the same year as the popular Mexican restaurant concept was launched—the chimichanga (which means ‘thingamajig’ in Spanish), has become a staple on Mexican restaurant menus around the country.
Ashura
Ashura is a holy day for Muslims all over the world, observed on the 9th and 10th day of Muharram, according to the Islamic calendar. This year, Ashura begins on July 5. The Shia Muslims see it as the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram and the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad) at the battle of Karbala.
For the Sunnis, Ashura is the day Moses fasted to show his gratitude for the freedom of the Israelites. Today is also a holy day of mourning observed primarily by Shia Muslims. Other Muslim sects spend the day fasting and meditating.