People run into the cold sea in South Boston, Massachusetts, to mark the New Year.
This year's official polar plunge was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic but groups of swimmers gathered at M Street beach to brave the 4°C water.
This Day in History:, The Boston Massacre.
March 5, 1770.
A skirmish in front of the Boston Custom House
between British soldiers and angry colonists ended in
violence when the troops opened fire on the crowd.
Three Americans were killed instantly and several
other men eventually died from their injuries.
The incident followed several years of tensions
and violence in colonial Massachusetts.
... partly due to revenue duties imposed on the colonists by
the Townshed Acts passed by British Parliament.
The violence turned colonial sentiment against
the British and King George in the years leading
up to the American Revolution.
John Adams wrote that the "foundation of
American independence was laid" by the massacre
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:48Published
This Day in History: , Dr. Seuss Is Born.
March 2, 1904.
Theodor Seuss Geisel —
best known by his pen name
Dr. Seuss — was born in Springfield, MA.
Geisel first used the pseudonym
Seuss at Dartmouth College as a
contributor to the school's humor magazine.
After returning from his
studies at Oxford, Geisel
pursued cartooning full time.
His first book under the name Dr. Seuss,
'And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street,'
was rejected 27 times.
In 1957, Dr. Seuss wrote
The Cat in the Hat as a
vocabulary primer for children.
The book was a massive success
and a major turning point in
the career of Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss published more than 60 books,
won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize, an Academy
Award, three Emmys and three Grammys.
His artwork shares space
in galleries with Rembrandt and Picasso
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:56Published
What's the Origin
of April Fools' Day?.
The April 1 tradition of pranks has been observed
for several centuries across a variety of cultures.
However, the official origins of
April Fools’ Day are unknown.
The most popular theory is that the day was
caused by the switch from the Julian calendar
to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century.
The original calendar saw the New Year
beginning on March 25, with celebrations
occurring on the first day of April.
The switch moved the New Year to January 1,
but many still thought April 1 was the proper day
to celebrate, hence they were “April fools.”.
Another theory says the day is related
to the arrival of Spring, when nature
“fools” people with irregular weather.
Historians have also linked April Fools' Day to an
ancient Roman festival known as Hilaria, which
was celebrated by people dressing up in disguises.
Whatever its origin may be, April Fools’ Day
has evolved to have its own lore and rules.
Superstition says that playing pranks
past noon or not responding to pranks
with good humor will attract bad luck
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:13Published
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