February 17th: A Day of Global Celebrations, Hoops Legends, and Random Kindness
- Nicolette
- 2 hours ago
- 13 min read
Welcome to our February journey! As we settle into the second month of the year, the days are getting longer, and the promise of spring is just around the corner.
But here at LetsGoWherever.com, we know that February 17th stands out as a day of remarkable global significance; a date when cultures collide, celebrations overlap, and history was made by everyone from basketball legends to submarine pioneers.
Whether you're feasting before Lent, ringing in a new lunar year, or simply performing a random act of kindness, this day invites us to connect with traditions far beyond our own borders.
What is Special about February 17th?
February 17th is a day of extraordinary convergence on the global calendar. In 2026, it serves as a cultural crossroads where multiple major celebrations align. It marks the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Horse on the Chinese lunar calendar.
It's also Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) , the final day of indulgence before the solemn season of Lent begins . And as if that weren't enough, it's anticipated to be the first evening of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, beginning at sundown .
But February 17th isn't just about major religious and cultural observances. It's also a day for celebrating the man widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time; Michael Jordan—who was born on this date in 1963 . And in a world that could always use a little more warmth, it's National Random Acts of Kindness Day, reminding us that small gestures can make a big difference .
National and International Holidays on February 17th
Global and Cultural Observances
Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse): February 17, 2026, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and many other East Asian cultures .
Celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice, this holiday is a time of renewal, with families gathering for reunion dinners, cleaning and decorating homes, settling debts, and buying new clothes to start the year fresh. Traditional lion dances, fireworks, gift-giving, and special foods like dumplings and rice cakes are all part of the festivities.
The Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year zodiac cycle, is associated with energy, speed, and independence. Those born in the Year of the Horse are said to be cheerful, quick-witted, and sometimes impatient—but always ready for adventure .
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday): Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday," falls on February 17 in 2026 as the final day of feasting before the fasting of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday . This celebration has deep roots in Christian tradition, with "Mardi Gras" representing the culmination of carnival season in many Latin countries and famously in New Orleans, where parades, masquerade balls, and revelry reach their peak. The name comes from the practice of using up rich foods like fats, eggs, and dairy before the 40-day Lenten fast.
Around the world, this day goes by different names: In England, it's Pancake Day, where families flip pancakes to use up cooking fats. Among the Pennsylvania Dutch, it's Fastnacht ("fast night"), celebrated with traditional rectangular doughnuts called fastnachtkuchen. In many Latin cultures, it's the climax of Carnival (from Latin carnem levare, meaning "to take away meat") . However you celebrate, today is about indulgence before sacrifice.
First Evening of Ramadan (Anticipated): On February 17, 2026, Muslims around the world are expected to observe the first evening of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar . Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the exact timing depends on the first sighting of the waxing crescent moon, but this is the anticipated date.
Ramadan commemorates the time when the angel Gabriel revealed the first verses of the Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad. During the month-long sunrise-to-sunset fast, Muslims abstain from food, drink (including water), and other physical needs during daylight hours, focusing on prayer, reflection, and community. The fast is meant to cleanse the body, remind the faithful of the suffering of the poor, and bring believers closer to God. Each evening, the fast is broken with a meal known as iftar, often shared with family and community, and food is frequently donated to poor families. At the end of Ramadan comes Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast, celebrated with feasting and joy .
United States Observances
National Random Acts of Kindness Day: In a world that can sometimes feel divided, February 17 encourages us to come together through simple, unexpected gestures of goodwill . Whether it's paying for a stranger's coffee, leaving an encouraging note for a coworker, helping a neighbor with groceries, or simply offering a genuine compliment, today is about spreading positivity. The day kicks off Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 15–20, 2026), giving us a full week to make kindness a habit .
National Cabbage Day: This quirky food holiday celebrates the humble yet versatile cabbage . Whether you enjoy it in coleslaw, stuffed cabbage rolls, sauerkraut, or as a key ingredient in St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage, today is the day to appreciate this nutrient-packed vegetable. Rich in vitamins C and K, cabbage has been a staple in cuisines around the world for centuries—from German sauerkraut to Korean kimchi to Irish colcannon.
National Cafe au Lait Day: For coffee lovers, February 17 offers a chance to savor the simple pleasure of cafe au lait—equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk . This French favorite is the perfect companion to a quiet winter morning, especially if you're celebrating Mardi Gras with a side of beignets.
National Public Science Day: This observance promotes public engagement with science and encourages interest in scientific research and education . It's a day to visit a science museum, watch a documentary, or simply marvel at the discoveries that shape our world—like the fact that scientists recently announced the discovery of a new mostly underwater continent, Zealandia, on February 17, 2017 .
Champion Crab Races Day: On a lighter note, this quirky holiday celebrates the fun and excitement of crab racing, often held at various events . It's a reminder that sometimes the best adventures come in small, shell-covered packages.
World Pangolin Day: This global observance raises awareness about pangolins, the most trafficked mammals in the world, and the urgent need for their conservation . These unique, scale-covered creatures are threatened by poaching for their meat and scales, and this day encourages efforts to protect them.
Daisy Gatson Bates Day: In Arkansas, February 17 is observed as Daisy Gatson Bates Day, honoring the civil rights activist known for her role in the integration of Central High School in Little Rock . Bates mentored the Little Rock Nine and fought tirelessly for educational equality.
State and Regional Observances
Family Day: In some regions, February 17 is observed as Family Day, a holiday that emphasizes the importance of family and encourages families to spend quality time together . It's a perfect complement to the Random Acts of Kindness theme—after all, kindness starts at home.
Weekly Observances
February 17 falls within Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 15–20, 2026), making it the perfect day to put compassion into action .
Monthly Observances
February is packed with month-long celebrations, including Black History Month, American Heart Month, Canned Food Month, Great American Pie Month, National Bird Feeding Month, National Cherry Month, and many more .
Fun Facts About February 17th
From political breakthroughs to underwater mysteries, February 17th is packed with fascinating historical events.
Political Milestones
Electoral Tie Broken (1801): On February 17, 1801, the U.S. House of Representatives broke an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, electing Jefferson as president and Burr as vice president . This marked the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in U.S. history, with Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans taking over from John Adams's Federalists .
Missouri Compromise Passed (1819): The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Missouri Compromise, legislation designed to maintain the balance between free and slave states as the nation expanded westward . It established that states above a certain latitude would be free, while those below would permit slavery—a temporary solution to a conflict that would eventually lead to civil war.
Nixon Departed for China (1972): President Richard Nixon departed on his historic trip to China, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the country and opening diplomatic relations after decades of hostility .
Kosovo Declared Independence (2008): Kosovo declared itself a nation in defiance of Serbia and Russia, a move that remains controversial and not universally recognized .
China Invaded Vietnam (1979): Despite previous friendship during the Vietnam War, China invaded Vietnam in response to Vietnam's military actions in Cambodia and its strengthened relationship with the Soviet Union. The invasion lasted only nine days and ended in Chinese defeat .
Parliament Voted to Join EEC (1972): The British Parliament voted to join the European Economic Community, a precursor to the European Union .
Stimulus Package Signed (2009): President Barack Obama signed a $757 billion economic stimulus package into law, aimed at combating the Great Recession .
War and Conflict
Columbia, South Carolina, Burned (1865): During the Civil War, Columbia, South Carolina, burned as Confederate forces fled from advancing Union troops led by William T. Sherman. The city was ablaze by nightfall, fanned by high winds, and it remains unclear which side started the fires .
First Submarine to Sink a Warship (1864): The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to sink an enemy warship, attacking the USS Housatonic off the coast of Charleston. However, the Hunley had a troubled history, it had sunk twice before, killing its crew, and shortly after this attack, it sank again, this time for good .
Battle of Eniwetok Atoll Began (1944): The Battle of Eniwetok Atoll began in the Pacific theater of World War II, ending in American victory on February 22 .
Science and Discovery
Zealandia Discovered (2017): Scientists announced the discovery of Zealandia, a new mostly underwater continent in the South Pacific, in the research journal GSA Today . This "lost continent" is about two-thirds the size of Australia and demonstrates that we still have much to learn about our planet.
Oldest Human-Neanderthal Sex Revealed (Date unspecified): The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology revealed that a 50,000-year-old Neanderthal woman's remains from the Altai Mountains showed traces of Homo sapien DNA, indicating interbreeding occurred around 100,000 years ago .
First Sardines Canned (1876): Sardines were first canned by Julius Wolff in Eastport, Maine, beginning a tradition of preserved seafood that continues today .
Baird Color TV Demonstrated (1938): The first public experimental demonstration of Baird color TV occurred in London .
Suez Canal Opened (1867): The first ship passed through the Suez Canal, connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and transforming global trade .
Music and Arts
"Madama Butterfly" Premiered (1904): Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly had its world premiere at La Scala in Milan, Italy . It was initially booed, leading Puccini to make massive revisions before releasing it again four months later to rave reviews .
Newsweek First Published (1933): Newsweek magazine was published for the first time .
Armory Show Opened (1913): The Armory Show opened in New York City, displaying works by artists who would become some of the most influential painters of the early 20th century, including Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase, which outraged viewers .
Voice of America Began (1947): The Voice of America began broadcasting to the Soviet Union, becoming a major propaganda campaign featuring news about America and, most popularly, American music .
Elvis's First Gold Album (1957): Elvis Presley was awarded his first gold album for Elvis .
The Phantom Debuted (Date unspecified): The world's first superhero, The Phantom, a cartoon strip by Lee Falk, made his first appearance in comics .
Sports History
Michael Jordan's Birthday (1963): The greatest basketball player of all time was born on this day .
Volkswagen Beetle Became Best-Seller (1972): The 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle was produced, surpassing the Ford Model T as the world's best-selling car . Originally designed as the "people's car" for Nazi Germany, the Beetle found popularity in the U.S. after World War II and became an icon of the hippie movement .
Kasparov Beat Deep Blue (1996): World chess champion Garry Kasparov beat the IBM supercomputer "Deep Blue," winning a six-game match in Philadelphia . The world had been shocked days earlier when Kasparov lost the first game to Deep Blue, but he ultimately won the tournament, sending Deep Blue into retirement .
Mike Souchak Set Golf Record (1955): American golfer Mike Souchak set a PGA 72-hole record of 257, which remained unbroken until 2001 .
Basketball Hall of Fame Opened (1968): The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened in Springfield, Massachusetts .
Johnny Weissmuller Set Record (1924): In Miami, Florida, Johnny Weissmuller set a new world record in the 100-yard freestyle swimming competition . He would later become famous as Tarzan in films.
Chain Pickerel Caught (Date unspecified): A 9-pound 6-ounce chain pickerel was caught near Homerville, Georgia .
Celebrity Birthdays on February 17th
February 17th has gifted the world with an extraordinary lineup of talent spanning sports, music, film, and history.
Sports Legends
Michael Jordan (1963): The greatest basketball player of all time turns 63 in 2026 . Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, earned five MVP awards, and became a global cultural icon. His Airness transcended sports, starring in Space Jam and building a business empire that includes the Jordan Brand. Even decades after his retirement, his legacy as a competitor and winner remains unmatched.
Jim Brown (1936-2023): One of the greatest NFL players of all time, Brown was a legendary running back for the Cleveland Browns, leading the league in rushing yards in eight of his nine seasons . After retiring at his peak, he became an actor in films like The Dirty Dozen and a civil rights advocate.
Wally Pipp (1893-1965): The American baseball player is best known for inadvertently starting Lou Gehrig's legendary consecutive games streak . On June 2, 1925, Pipp was famously replaced by Gehrig—a moment that would define his legacy. Despite this, Pipp was a skilled hitter and fielder who finished his career with a .283 batting average.
Buddy Ryan (1931-2016): The innovative American football coach devised the '46 defense' and led the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX .
Dennis Green (1949-2016): The trailblazing coach became the first African American head coach of an NFL franchise with the Minnesota Vikings .
Karin Büttner-Janz (1952): The German gymnast won Olympic gold medals in vault and team events at the 1972 Munich Olympics and pioneered the 'Janz Salto' on the uneven bars before becoming an orthopedic physician .
Roger Craig (1930-2023): The American baseball pitcher, coach, and manager won multiple championships and was known for his effective sinkerball .
Miki Berkovich (1954): The Israeli basketball icon led Maccabi Tel Aviv to European championships and captained the national team .
Alexander Obolensky (1916-1940): The Russian rugby player starred for England's rugby union team before serving as a Royal Air Force pilot in WWII .
Don Tallon (1916-1984): The Australian wicketkeeper regarded as one of cricket's greatest stoppers .
Joe Hunt (1919-1945): The American tennis champion won the U.S. singles title and served as a Navy pilot during WWII .
Music Icons
Billie Joe Armstrong (1972): The lead singer of Green Day turns 54 . As the frontman of one of the most successful punk rock bands of all time, Armstrong has shaped the sound of a generation with albums like Dookie and American Idiot.
Gene Pitney (1941-2006): The singer-songwriter known for hits like "Town Without Pity" and "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" .
Film and Television Stars
Rene Russo (1954): The American actress turns 72 . Known for her roles in Lethal Weapon 3, The Thomas Crown Affair, and the Night at the Museum series, Russo has been a Hollywood staple for decades.
Paris Hilton (1981): The heiress, media personality, and entrepreneur turns 45 . Love her or not, Hilton defined an era of celebrity culture and has built a business empire spanning fragrances, fashion, and DJing.
Jerry O'Connell (1974): The actor and game show host turns 52 . Known for Stand By Me, Sliders, and hosting The Talk.
Lou Diamond Phillips (1962): The actor turns 64 . Famous for La Bamba, Stand and Deliver, and Young Guns.
Denise Richards (1971): The actress turns 55 . Known for Wild Things, Starship Troopers, and The World Is Not Enough.
Hal Holbrook (1925-2021): The acclaimed actor known for All the President's Men and his one-man show as Mark Twain .
Patricia Routledge (1929): The British actress best known for Keeping Up Appearances turns 97 .
Alan Bates (1934-2003): The acclaimed British actor .
Barry Humphries (1934-2023): The Australian comedian known as Dame Edna Everage .
Julia McKenzie (1941): The British actress and singer known for Cranford and Agatha Christie's Marple turns 85 .
Jason Ritter (1980): The actor turns 46 . Known for Parenthood and Kevin (Probably) Saves the World.
Richard Karn (1956): The actor and game show host best known as Al on Home Improvementturns 70 .
Historical Figures and Thinkers
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713): The Italian violinist and composer was a pioneer of Baroque music .
Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874-1956): The American industrialist who built IBM .
Huey P. Newton (1942-1989): The American activist who co-founded the Black Panthers .
Chaim Potok (1929-2002): The American author known for The Chosen .
A. Montgomery Ward (1843-1913): The American mail-order merchant who founded the Montgomery Ward catalog .
Andrew B. Paterson (1864-1941): The Australian poet, journalist, and songwriter who wrote "Waltzing Matilda" .
Andre Maginot (1877-1932): The French statesman for whom the Maginot Line was named .
H. L. Hunt (1889-1974): The American oil tycoon .
Hans J. Morgenthau (1904-1980): The German-born American political scientist and historian .
Red Barber (1908-1992): The American baseball broadcaster .
Arthur Kennedy (1914-1990): The American character actor .
Margaret Truman (1924-2008): The novelist and daughter of President Harry S Truman .
Ruth Rendell (1930-2015): The British writer of crime thrillers .
Raf Vallone (1916-2002): The Italian footballer turned celebrated film actor .
Joaquín Rodríguez Ortega (1903-1984): The Spanish bullfighter known as "Cagancho" .
Notable Deaths on February 17th
Geronimo (1829-1909): The Chiricahua Apache leader died of pneumonia after a fall from a horse left him stranded outside overnight .
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982): The legendary jazz pianist died on this day .
Wilfrid Laurier (1841-1919): The 8th Prime Minister of Canada .
Molière (1622-1673): The French playwright .
Heinrich Heine (1797-1856): The German writer .
Giordano Bruno (1548-1600): The Italian religious reformer was burned at the stake .
Lee Strasberg (1901-1982): The actor and director, known as the father of method acting .
Rush Limbaugh (1951-2021): The American radio personality and writer .
Albert I of Belgium (1875-1934): The King of Belgium .
Ernst Jünger (1895-1998): The militaristic German author .
Clodius Albinus (Died 197): The would-be Roman emperor was killed in battle .
Jovian (Born c. 332, Died 364): The Roman emperor .
Whether you're welcoming the Year of the Horse, indulging in pancakes before Lent, beginning the sacred fast of Ramadan, celebrating the birthday of a basketball god, or simply brightening a stranger's day with a random act of kindness, February 17th invites us to embrace the full spectrum of human experience—from the joy of celebration to the power of compassion.
Where will this globally connected day take you? Let us know in the comments!
Here are other dates in February we think you would like:
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