Tidbits of History, September 29

September 29 is:

World Heart Day established to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease.

Michaelmas Day, the Feast of Saint Michael, the Archangel, honoring Michael as representative of all the angels. In Christianity, the Archangel Michael is the greatest of all the Archangels and is honored for defeating Lucifer in the war in heaven.

“Old Michaelmas Day” fell on 11 October. It is said that the Devil fell out of Heaven on this date, and fell into a blackberry bush, cursing the fruit as he fell. According to an old legend, blackberries should not be picked after this date. In Yorkshire, it is said that the devil had spat on them. According to Morrell (1977), this old legend is well known in all parts of the United Kingdom, even as far north as the Orkney Islands. In Cornwall, a similar legend prevails; however, the saying goes that the devil urinated on them.

International Coffee Day
International Mocha Day

Birthday of Horatio Nelson, (September 29, 1758) English admiral who is remembered for his admonition, “England expects that every man will do his duty”.
He was wounded several times in combat: A musket ball severed an artery and his arm was amputated immediately – without anaesthetic – in the unsuccessful attempt to conquer Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. He lost the sight in one eye in Corsica. Of his several victories, the best known and most notable was the Battle of Trafalgar on the south coast of Spain in 1805. During this battle he called his captains a “band of brothers”. It was a reference to Shakespeare’s Henry V play. At Trafalgar he was shot, the shot puncturing his lung and fracturing his spine. His last words were, “Thank God I have done my duty”.

On Sept. 29, 1957, the New York Giants played their last game at the Polo Grounds, losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1. The Giants moved to San Francisco for the next season. in the summer of 1957 both the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers announced their moves to California, ending the three-team golden age of baseball in New York City.

September 29, 1966 – The Chevrolet Camaro, originally named Panther, was introduced. It was built as competition to the Ford Mustang.
Automotive press asked Chevrolet product managers, “What is a Camaro?” and were told it was “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.”

2005 – John Roberts was sworn in as the nation’s 17th chief justice.