Moreholidays June Hot Air Balloon Day

                           

Hot Air Balloon Day

Hot Air Balloon

When is Hot Air Balloon Day? This holiday is always celebrated on June 5

Are you afraid of heights?  If not let’s fly up and away into the bright, clear sky. Today is Hot Air Balloon Day, a June 5 holiday. Let’s celebrate these bright and colorful, lighter-than aircraft. They were invented in France in the 1700s. Albuquerque, N.M. hosts the world’s largest hot air balloon festival each year. Over 750 balloons are at the annual festival.

The first manned lighter-than-air balloon flight was on November 11, 1783. Ever since then, tethered and untethered balloons have been used for a wide variety of purposes. Beginning in the Civil War, they were used for reconnaissance. Hot air balloons are still used for military and scientific purposes. They have been used for travel, going from point A to point B. Nowadays, they are mostly limited to air shows and festivals, and hot air balloon rides from a hobby and entertainment perspective.

Did You Know? It is a tradition to break out a bottle of champagne when a balloon lands. It origin of this tradition is unknown.

Song of the Day: Up, Up and Away by the Fifth Dimension.

Record Height: The record is 68,986 feet. Of course, the pilot and co-pilot needed oxygen masks.

Most Famous Hot Air Balloon Movie Scene:  In the Wizard of Oz, the wizard heads back to Kansas in a balloon, without Dorothy. 

Hydrogen versus Helium Versus Hot Air Balloons:

Highly flammable Hydrogen is the lightest gas on earth. It is also plentiful. Early Balloon and Dirigibles used Hydrogen with often disastrous results. The Hindenburg disaster is the most well-known. On the other hand, Helium is a fairly stable gas. But, it is scarce and therefore, far more expensive. It is not as light as hydrogen, so the payload size is reduced. Hot air balloons use regular air. Heating the air inside of the balloon causes the air molecules to expand and become lighter than air. The resulting lift occurs after the air inside of the balloon is light enough to overcome the weight of the balloon, the basket, and any human passengers and cargo.

How to Celebrate and Participate in Hot Air Balloon Day

Here are some ideas on how to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day:

  • Watch a hot air balloon show. Don’t forget your camera.
  • Take a ride in one.
  • Learn more about them.
Hot Air Balloons

Today's Chuckle

“As a child, my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.” – – Buddy Hackett

History and Origin of Hot Air Balloon Day

There is very little documentation to be found on this high-flying holiday. It first appeared around 2010. No one has claimed ownership of this special day.

There is some speculation that this day is celebrated on November 11, commemorating the date of the first manned flight on a lighter-than-air balloon. This speculation is merely that……speculation. This speculation appears occasionally in online blogs and commentary. There is no website claiming this day to be held on November 21.



More June 5 Holidays

Here is another June 5 holiday for you to enjoy:

World Environment Day

More About Today

This Day in History

Famous June Birthdays

Flower of the Day: Texas Bluebonnet

Recipe of the Day: Chinese Asparagus Salad

Ecards Send a free Ecard daily for just about any June calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Or, just for the fun of it!

Holiday Insights, where every day in June 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? 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. June 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.

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