On This Day - October 15th
So, we’ve made it to the middle of the month, and Halloween is already well underway if you’re in the West. But, we also need to remember to cherish each date this month, and not just the 31st. For example, here are some of the most interesting things to know about October 15th – we’ve lots of details to share with you, which you might find even more interesting if you’re celebrating already!
On this day
The Gregorian calendar commenced in Spain.
In 1582, the Gregorian calendar was finally introduced in Spain, Portugal, and the pontifical states. Having skipped ten days to sync up, the day before was actually October 4th… strange, but true!
Napoleon began his exile.
In 1815, French military commander and self-proclaimed emperor Napoleon Bonaparte arrived at St Helena to begin his exile. He died at the age of 51 on the island, still exiled from France.
The Battle of Shaho took place.
In 1904, Russian forces were driven back by the Japanese on this day as part of the Battle of Shaho – although both suffered terrible losses, with the Japanese number of casualties being around 16,000, and Russians reportedly losing more than 60,000.
A Pan Am flight landed on water.
In 1956, Pan Am Flight 6 from San Francisco to Honolulu became the first ever to land safely on water! All 24 passengers and seven crew members survived – a scary, but important moment for passenger transport history.
Special Days Falling on October 15th
October 15th takes us into the middle of the month, and while many of you might be looking forward to Halloween, there are still plenty of reasons to mark this midpoint. If you’re not already celebrating today, here are a few reasons why 10/15 is worth marking the calendar.
Commemoration Day of King’s Father
Cambodia marks October 15th each year as the Commemoration Day of the King's Father – to give its full title, it's the Commemoration Day to the Royal Soul of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, Preahmahaviraksat, King-Father of the Cambodian National Independence, Territorial Integrity and Unity! The day commemorates the death of Cambodia’s former King, Norodom Sihanouk, who died on this very date in 2012.
International Day of Rural Women
Every October 15th, people around the world celebrate International Day of Rural Women. The day is dedicated to women in rural areas worldwide, who work tirelessly to support agriculture, their families, and their broader communities.
Global Handwashing Day
We all know that washing our hands multiple times a day is important – and the COVID-19 pandemic made that clearer to millions than ever before! And, if the pandemic taught us all something, it should be that many of us neglected to wash our hands properly, maybe even most of our lives! Remember that you need to use soap all over your hands, and rub the soap in for a while before rinsing – it will make all the difference.
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This page was last modified on October 15, 2023. Suggest an edit
This month in history
British troops left Northern Ireland. In 1994, for the first time in about 25 years, there were no British troops in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. This was due to cease-fires agreed between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and pro-British forces - the Troubles, as they became known, had resulted in many civilian deaths over the decades.
Famous Birthdays on October 15th
Virgil, Roman poet, born 70 BC
Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and philologist, born 1844
P.G. Wodehouse, English-American writer, born 1881
Tanya Roberts, American actor, born 1949
Dominic West, English actor, born 1969
If you were born on October 15th…
…you’re a Libra! You’re smart, generous, and very fair. You’re an ideal friend, partner, and relative – particularly because you’re so good at breaking up a crisis. That said, you can get a little stubborn sometimes – so it’s best to keep certain tendencies in check!
Want to know more about your star sign? Head over to our Libra facts page.
