National Vesuvius Day
About National Vesuvius Day
When is National Vesuvius Day? This holiday is always observed on August 24
Vesuvius Day marks the date in 79 A.D. that Mount Vesuvius exploded. When the Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted, it became one of the top 10 most devastating eruptions in recorded history. It ranks as #9.
August 24, 79 A.D. was a historic date for the world. This was the day that Mount Vesuvius erupted in a huge explosion. It was one of the largest volcanic explosions in recorded history.
This deadly volcano destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. They were buried by volcanic ash and pumice. An estimated 3,360 people died in the volcano’s eruption. Had the eruption occurred in modern day, it would have killed many ,many more people.
Mount Vesuvius also exploded a second time in 1631. At that time, it killed approximately 3,500 people.
The Worst Volcanic Eruptions
Here are the worst volcanic eruptions in history:
- Mt. Tambora, Indonesia, 1815 – It killed approximately 120,00 people.
- Krakatoa, Indonesia, 1883 – One of the most violent volcanic eruptions in history. It destroyed the island it resided on.
- Laki, Iceland, 1783 – The effects of acid rain and global temperature drop lasted for years.
- Mt Pelee, Caribbean, 1902 – It is the worst eruption of the 20th century. It destroyed the city of St. Pierre. Of 28,000 residents, only 2 survived.
- Ilopango, El Salvador, 450AD – Scientists estimate it was the second-largest volcanic eruption in 200,000 years. It killed an estimated 100,000 people and caused global cooling for years.
How to Celebrate Vesuvius Day
- Learn more about the devastating Mount Vesuvius eruption.
- Learn about how volcanic eruptions occur.
- Make an erupting volcano model for school projects, or just for fun.
Today's Quote
“In order to carry a positive action, we must develop a positive vision.” – – Dalai Lama
History and Origin of VesuviusDay
History records the Mount Vesuvius Volcano as one of the worst eruptions in history. What we don’t know, is who created this holiday.
This Day in History
Besides Vesuvius Day, here are some other things that happened on this August 24 holiday:
- Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York patents the Waffle Iron. (1869)
- To the dismay of millions of star gazers, Pluto was demoted from a “Planet” to a “Dwarf Planet”. (2006)
- Cal Ripken Jr., Ironman baseball player, played in 2,643 consecutive games., was born on this day in 1960.
More August 24 Holidays
Here are more August 24 holidays we are sure you will enjoy:
More About Today
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date. See what happened on this date in history.
Famous August Birthdays – Did you ever wonder what famous people share your birth date? If so, then find out now!
Ecards – Send a free Ecard daily for just about any calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Undoubtedly, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Flower of the Day: Allium
Recipe of the Day: Tex-Mex tomato Zucchini Salad
Holiday Insights, where every day in August is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Moreover, in addition to Mount Vesuvius Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. And many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. August holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.