May 5th, 1862, a date that lives on today – not as Mexican Independence Day, which is actually September 16th – but as a celebration of the Mexican militia over the French occupiers at the Battle of Puebla. Thousands across the Americas will celebrate Mexican food, music, beverage and customs with parades, concerts, and festivals.
One of the interesting sidebars to Cinco de Mayo is its date: May 5th or 5/5. The odds of any given day of the month being the same as the month itself – let’s call this event match day – is around 3%. There are of course 12 of these each year. And something is already happening on many of these days: January 1st is of course new year’s day, and February 2nd is ground hogs day. What about March 3rd and the rest of the months?
I like the idea of having a special holiday each month that’s got a math twist, so I’ve come up with a Match Day for each month for those of you who wish to celebrate this new Match Day holiday with me. January 1st and February 2nd are Match Days that already have good things to celebrate, so March is up next.
March 3rd? Why that’s Money Day. The US Mint was created by Congress March 3rd, 1791. To celebrate Money Day I’m not going to spend a dime all day.
April 4th is Give it Up Day. Napoleon abdicated for the first time on April 4th, 1814. From now on when April 4th comes around I’m going to find something bad to give up for the rest of the year, like a bad habit – or at least a bad shirt.
Today, May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, can’t improve on that.
June 6th is Connect Day. The first Internet connection was made on June 6th, 1969. I’m going to connect with at least one person I haven’t communicated with for at least 5 years. I hope they still remember me!
Let’s call July 7th Question Strongly Held Beliefs Day. On July 7, 1456, Joan of Arc was acquitted of heresy 25 years after her death. Sometimes people are so sure of things they are willing to see other people die for their beliefs. Each July 7th I’m going to take one strongly held belief of mine, read a good book on it, and discuss it with an open mind.
August 8th is Father’s Day in Taiwan but the rest of the world already has one of those. And if you’re a dad, everyday is Father’s Day anyway. Instead, let’s call this Tell the World day. In 1908 on August 8th the Wright brothers made their first flight in public. I’m going to do something I like – and hopefully am good at – in public on August 8th.
September 9th is Song Day, in honor of Elvis Presley’s first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. On this day I’m going to wake up singing my favorite song. It doesn’t have to be Elvis – or even rock. For example in my case it might be the Schubert C Major cello quintet.
October 10th is Rearrange Day. On this day in 1971 the London Bridge was reopened in Arizona. It’s a good day to move around furniture and put things where, well, you just wouldn’t expect to find them.
November 11th is already Veterans Day in the US and Armistice Day in France and Belgium. A day worthy of Match Day.
And finally, December 12th. Nothing spectacular seems to have happened on this day, aside from a 24% drop in the Dow in 1914. 12 12 is like 12 dozen or a dozen dozen, which is also called a gross. Gross Day! But it will be fun, not gross. I’m going to pick something I like to do and do it 144 times. Eat a grape, kiss my sweetie, smile at strangers.
The Match Day. Now we have a new holiday for nearly every month! Math opens up such wonderful possibilities, doesn’t it?
That’s today’s math behind the news. I’m Larry Shiller.
Sources:
http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
