Today is November 30: discover the significance of this date and the historical events that took place on this day.
November 30 is the Day of Radio Technical Troops of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On this day in 1936, a fire destroyed the Crystal Palace in London. In 1939, the Soviet-Finnish War began. In 1954, the first documented case of a person being injured by a meteorite was recorded. In 1979 and 1982, two of the most successful albums were released: "The Wall" by Pink Floyd and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. In 2013, the Berkut began a forceful crackdown on Euromaidan in Kyiv.
Holidays and Commemorative Dates on November 30
On November 30 in Ukraine – the Day of Radio Technical Troops of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Worldwide – International Day of Information Security, Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare.
Also today: International Day of Sex, World Day for Pets, International Day of "Cities for Life," International Skirt Day, International Day of Microelectronics.
November 30 in History
On November 30, 1918, Denmark recognized the independence of Iceland.
On November 30, 1936, a fire occurred in London that destroyed the Crystal Palace. Read more.
On November 30, 1939, the Soviet-Finnish (or Winter) War began.
On November 30, 1954, a meteorite fragment from Sylacauga injured American Ann Elizabeth Hodges. This made her famous and entered her into history as it was the first documented case of a person being injured by an extraterrestrial object. The meteorite, weighing 3.86 kg, fell in the town of Sylacauga, Alabama, USA, on the afternoon of November 30.
Residents of three states witnessed its entry into the atmosphere. As it fell, the space rock broke into several pieces. One of them, roughly the size of an orange, crashed through the roof of the Hodges' home. The "alien" struck a large wooden radio and ricocheted into Ann, who was napping on the couch in the living room. As a result, she sustained a thigh injury, which, however, was not severe. Initially, Ann thought the chimney had collapsed in her home. But upon examining the unusual stone, she called the police and firefighters. The injured woman was hospitalized the next day, not so much because of the injury, but due to stress. The incident quickly became widely known, with journalists surrounding Ann from all sides. She also received numerous letters from fans, although she did not respond to them.
The meteorite was confiscated from the Hodges for examination. The mayor planned to donate the fragment to the local natural history museum. However, buyers appeared, offering significant sums at the time – $5,500 for the "heavenly stone." From that moment, the meteorite became the subject of legal disputes. Ann's husband, Eugene Hodges, claimed he had "sufficient evidence that the object fell on my property" – and the meteorite was returned to him. However, the homeowner, from whom the Hodges were renting, Birdie Guy, asserted his ownership of the meteorite, arguing that it had fallen on his private property. They battled in court for a year, and finally, after paying Guy $500 in compensation, they were able to reclaim the stone.
However, interest in the cosmic oddity waned over the year, along with buyers with money. As a result, in 1956, against her husband's wishes, Ann sold the meteorite fragment to the Alabama Museum of Natural History for just $25. The extraordinary event in her life did not make her wealthy or happy. In 1964, the Hodges couple divorced. Eugene claimed that after the meteorite incident, his wife changed – she became too shy, withdrawn, anxious, and nervous. They had no children. Ann passed away in 1972 in a nursing home due to kidney failure. Eugene outlived her by 40 years – he died in 2012. A few years earlier (in 2005), Eugene donated his rare radio, which first took the meteorite's impact, to the American Museum of Natural History.
On November 30, 1979, the legendary album "The Wall" by Pink Floyd was released. Read more.
On November 30, 1982, Michael Jackson released the best-selling album of all time – "Thriller." Read more.
On November 30, 1992, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction. Therefore, this date is observed as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Chemical Warfare.
On November 30, 2013, the Berkut began a forceful crackdown on Euromaidan in Kyiv. Read more.
Church Holiday on November 30
On November 30, the memory of Apostle Andrew the First-Called is honored. Read more.
Folk Signs
If there is still snow on November 30, winter will be warm and with little snow. But if snow is already on the ground, it will be cold and snowy.
If it snows on Andrew's Day, winter will be frosty and cold.
If the fire in the stove is red, it will be cold; if white, a thaw.
What Not to Do on November 30
It is not advisable to do housework, sew, or embroider.
Weddings and feasts should be avoided.
It is recommended to stay indoors, especially during the dark hours of the day.