Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
29 August 2023 marks the centenary of the birth of Sir Richard Attenborough, English actor, director and producer. He left home when he was 17 to attend London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. His acting roles stretch a remarkable 60 years from 1942 to 2002 – starring in early films such as the sublime ‘A Matter … Continue reading “100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Richard Attenborough”
28 August marks the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr giving his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The March on Washington put pressure on the Kennedy administration to advance its civil rights legislation in Congress. The speech … Continue reading “‘I have a dream’”
On 13th August 1992 the Left-Handers’ Club launched International Left-Handers’ Day, an annual event when left-handers everywhere can celebrate their sinistrality and increase public awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed. This event is now celebrated worldwide, and in the U.K. alone there have been more than 20 regional events to mark the … Continue reading “International Left-Handers’ Day 13 August”
Portrait of Charlotte Grote Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA, FRS, FRSA (16 July 1723-23 February 1792) was portrait painter and aesthetician who dominated English artistic life in the middle and late 18th century and was one of the major European painters of that time. Through his art and teaching, he attempted to lead British painting away … Continue reading “Sir Joshua Reynolds 300th anniversary”
Black Country Day 14 July – this day was chosen as it is considered to be the date of the inception of the Newcomen engine, the first commercially successful engine. Invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712, it was first installed at Coneygree Coal Works in Tipton and was used to pump water out of mines. A replica … Continue reading “Black Country Day 14 July”
Bastille Day celebrates the storming of the Bastille – a military fortress and prison – on July 14, 1789, in a violent uprising that was a turning point in the French Revolution. Holding gunpowder and other supplies valuable to revolutionaries, the Bastille also symbolized the callous tyranny of the French monarchy, especially King Louis XVI … Continue reading “Bastille Day – le quatorze juillet”
World Chocolate day is actually a relatively new event, first celebrated back in 2009. The date July 7th was specifically chosen because it was on this day in the year 1550 that chocolate arrived in Europe. Chocolate comes from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, an exotic tree that’s been cultivated for over three … Continue reading “World Chocolate Day 7 July”
Asalha Puja is a Theravada Buddhist festival, one of the most important festivals in Theravada Buddhism. The celebration takes place on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, which is typically in July. It celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon – the “Sermon in the Deer Park” at Sarnath in India. In this sermon, … Continue reading “Asalha Puja”
Windrush Day celebrates the sea voyage of the MV Empire Windrush and the rich culture and heritage the passengers brought with them from the Caribbean. HMT Empire Windrush arrived in Britain on 22 June 1948. On board there were more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean. However, on arrival in the UK people were often … Continue reading “Windrush Day 22 June”
We all get lonely. It’s time to talk about it. Brought to you by Marmalade Trust, Loneliness Awareness Week is dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness and getting people talking about it, across the UK and beyond. Connection matters – it’s what makes us human. Read about how to get involved at https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org/
