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DARWIN DAY

When is Darwin Day in 2024?

Darwin Day in 2024 is on the Monday, 12th of Feb (2/12/2024).

Darwin Day is on the 43th day of 2024. There are 323 days left in the year.

Darwin Day Facts

  • Date: Feb 12, 2024
  • International
  • Also Called: International Darwin Day
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; reading, partying
Darwin Day iImage Credit: Wikipedia

Popularly known as international Darwin Day, the holiday is observed on February 12th every year. The day commemorates the life of Charles Darwin who was a naturalist and geologist in the 19th century. The holiday also brings the attention of Darwin’s contributions to the science world. ,/p>

Who was Charles Darwin?

Born on February 12th, 1809, Charles Robert Darwin was the second youngest in a family of six. His father, Robert Darwin was a wealthy doctor and financier. At 22, Darwin left England for HMS Beagle on a five-year survey voyage. It is during this time that he crafted his theory of evolution intensely studied the natural selection of plants and animal specimens.

In 1859, he published the book ‘The Origin of Species’ where he claimed that all life originates from a single ancestor. He also argued that all diversity in the animal and plant kingdom is brought about by evolutionary processes such as natural selection, genetic mutation, and extinction. Charles Darwin later died in London on April 19th, 1882.

History of Darwin Day

Charles Darwin’s life achievements and work have been celebrated since he died. In 1909, more than 400 academicians and scientists converged at Cambridge to honor Darwin’s contributions. On the same year, his 100th birth anniversary was celebrated at the American Museum of Natural History.

Scientists, academicians, and universities across the globe have over the years recognized Charles Darwin and his work. However, there was no official holiday created for this observance. In 2015, the US Congress House Resolution designated February 12th as the official Darwin’s Day. The date was reached since it coincides with Darwin’s birthday.

How to Celebrate Darwin’s Day

The best Darwin Day celebration is to study the theory of evolution intensely. It’s also a good time to understand the concept of natural selection and survival for the fittest often misunderstood as survival for the best.

Read ‘Origin of Species’ which is the first book that Darwin published. You can also visit your local museum and spend time learning about history and evolution.

Another great way to celebrate this day is by hosting or attending a phylum feast. A phylum feast is a type of dinner where the aim is to have the dishes as biodiverse as possible. The feast also comprises of discovering and incorporating diverse biotic sources in our diet. Darwin himself enjoyed eating birds and beasts species that are unknown to the human palate. By exploring other biotic sources, it helps us in remembering our origin as omnivorous.

Remember to post your thoughts about evolution on social media using the hashtag #DarwinDay.

Why Celebrate Darwin’s Day

The field of Biology did not exist until Darwin’s highlighted the theory of evolution and natural selection. His ideas led to advances in the world of biology and have been used to help humankind understand life better. His perspective also paved the way for an understanding of the evolutionary history of modern humans. It is through Darwin’s ideas that various academic fields arose. These include ethology, ecology, behavioral genetics, Darwinian Literature, immunology among others.

Interesting Darwin Facts

• Darwin came from an influential family.

• Darwin married his cousin, Emma Wedgewood and together they had ten children

• Initially, Darwin pursued medicine, but his fascination for nature made him quit school before completing his studies. This made his father very disappointed in him.

• His work caused extreme controversy at the time. His idea that humans evolved from apes and not created by God was not welcome

• He died of a heart attack and was buried in Westminister Abbey

• Darwin and Abraham Lincoln share the same birth date and year. They also both lost their mothers to depression when they were very young

• Darwin’s portrait appeared on the British 10-pound note from the year 2000 to 2017

• Darwin loved eating exotic animals. He ate hawks, owls, and puma, all of which he described remarkably tasty.

Darwin Day Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Thu
  • Feb 12, 2015
  • Fri
  • Feb 12, 2016
  • Sun
  • Feb 12, 2017
  • Mon
  • Feb 12, 2018
  • Tue
  • Feb 12, 2019

List of International Holidays Celebrated in Year 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day