July – Fascinating & Wacky Fun Facts!
Hey everyone! It’s officially summertime, and that means lots of fun in the sun. When most people think of July, they think of fireworks, hot weather, and patriotic holidays. Did you know there are some interesting things about July that most people don’t know?
July comes with a lot of excitement. It’s filled with holidays, fun outdoor activities, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy time with family and friends.
Here are some fascinating (and even some wacky) fun facts about July that will help you appreciate this particular month even more!
The Romans originally referred to July as Quintilis, which was the month of the fifth season. It was the fifth month of the year until January and February were added in 450 BC. The Latin word for fifth gave it its name.
Later the name was changed to Julius in honor of Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general and politician. Caesar was born on July 12th, and the month was named in his honor after he became dictator of Rome in 47 BC.
In addition, July is the seventh month of the year in our current Gregorian calendar. Another fascinating fact is the realization that the halfway point of a calendar year is July 2nd. So if you need to reflect on the first six months and wish to do the 2nd six months as the beginning of any new resolutions or goals, July 2nd is the time to do it.
The month of July is typically considered to be the middle of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Alternatively, in the Southern Hemisphere, July marks the middle of the winter season.
From World UFO Day to International Ice Cream Day to the popular fireworks of the 4th of July celebration, July is full of fun days. Be sure to go through the entire list as you may see some ‘crazy and wacky’ days mixed in!
Of all the months of the year, July is the month all fellow ‘foodies’ love! So get your pen and paper out so you can jot down all these ‘delicious July days!’
July 1
Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
International Chicken Wing Day
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 6
July 7
National Strawberry Sundae Day
July 8
July 9
July 10
July 11
National Blueberry Muffins Day
July 12
July 13
National Nitrogen Ice Cream Day
July 14
National Macaroni and Cheese Day
July 15
July 16
July 17
July 18
July 19
July 20
July 21
July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
The entire month of July is a celebration of America’s independence from Great Britain. The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is the most well-known holiday in July. It commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.
This federal holiday is celebrated with barbecues, picnics, parades, and of course, fireworks. Families and friends gather together to enjoy food and fun, and to remember the sacrifice of those who fought for our independence.
Other patriotic holidays in July include Canada Day on July 1st, which celebrates the anniversary of Canada’s confederation, and Bastille Day on July 14th, commemorating the French Revolution’s beginning.
But wait, there’s a lot more celebrating to be done this month. Let’s take a look, shall we!
July 1
July 4
July 7
July 8
July 10
July 11
July 14
July 20
July 23
July 24
July 26
July 29
July 30
International Day of Friendship
To round out our list of wacky, off-beat and unusual days for the month of July, I present these days to bring a little fun and humor.
July 1
July 2
July 3
July 5
July 6
July 7
Father-Daughter Take a Walk Together Day
July 8
July 10
July 11
July 12
July 13
July 14
July 15
National Give Something Away Day
July 16
July 17
July 18
July 20
Ugly Truck Day- it’s a “guy” thing
July 21
July 22
July 24
July 26
July 27
Take Your Houseplants for a Walk
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
We are all born of greatness and there’s absolutely no reason that your birthday can’t one day be known for you, yes YOU for your greatness someday!
Some of the most fascinating individuals are born in July. Here are a few of my favorites. Take a look at them and see if you share a common bond!
July 1, 1961: Princess Diana
Diana, the Princess of Wales, was adored by many as she changed the way people viewed the Royal Family. Diana remains an icon of strength and independence to women around the world.
July 1, BC 0100: Julius Caesar
Considered one of the most powerful men in history, Julius Caesar was a Roman general and politician who conquered much of Europe and was eventually assassinated.
July 3, 1962: Tom Cruise
One of Hollywood’s most popular actors, Tom Cruise has starred in some of the biggest blockbusters of all time.
July 4, 1971: Koko the Gorilla
Koko, the famous research gorilla who passed away in 2018, knew more than 1000 words of modified American Sign Language and loved cats.
July 4, 1918: Esther Lederer and Pauline Phillips
Twin sisters Esther Lederer and Pauline Phillips (born Friedman) pen the Ann Landers and Dear Abby advice columns, respectively. (Phillips wrote Dear Abby under the name Abigail Van Buren.)
July 6, 1907: Frida Kahlo
Painter Frida Kahlo was born and died in the same house, a building nicknamed “La Casa Azul” for its blue exterior.
July 7, 1940: Ringo Starr
The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England.
July 8, 1839: John D Rockefeller
John D Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870 and is considered one of the richest people in history.
July 9, 1956: Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is one of only two actors to win back-to-back Best Acting Oscars: Hanks won his first Best Actor Oscar in 1994 for his performance in Philadelphia (1993), and he followed that up with another Oscar for Forrest Gump the next year.
July 10, 1856: Nikola Tesla
Inventor Nikola Tesla is best known for his development of alternating current (AC) and for his many contributions to the electrical grid.
July 11, 1889: E.B. White
E.B. White, the beloved Charlotte’s Web author, a popular children’s book, is a staple in all schools across America.
July 12, 1817: Henry David Thoreau
Author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau was a total yogi. He was reportedly introduced to the practice of yogi through friend and fellow writer Ralph Waldo Emerson.
July 13, 1942: Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is one of Hollywood’s biggest box office stars. He has starred in some of the highest-grossing films of all time, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’
July 13, 1940: Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart is an English actor, best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation.’
July 16, 1967: Will Ferrell
While other SNL stars have struggled to make the leap from the small screen to Hollywood, Will Ferrell—who Lorne Michaels once described as “the glue that holds [Saturday Night Live] together”—has found even greater success in Hollywood.
July 18, 1918: Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela is often credited as saying, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
July 20, BC 0356: Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders in history. He conquered most of the known world in his lifetime.
July 21, 1899: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His novels and short stories are classics.
July 21, 1961: Robin Williams
The world was shocked and saddened when actor and comedian Robin Williams passed away in 2014. He was a beloved figure in Hollywood and beyond.
July 24, 1897: Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart’s ill-fated, twin-engine Lockheed Electra made a cameo in a 1936 film called Love on the Run, starring Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. It was shot eight months before the plane’s final flight over the Pacific Ocean but was only discovered on screen in 2016.
July 24, 1969: Jennifer Lopez
Singer, actress, and producer Jennifer Lopez was born in the Bronx, New York. She is one of the most successful Latina entertainers of the 21st century.
July 26, 1928: Stanley Kubrick
According to David Hughes, one of Stanley Kubrick’s biographers, Stephen King wrote an entire draft of a screenplay for The Shining, which the director never even read.
July 26, 1967: Jason Statham
Jason Statham is an English actor and film producer. He is best known for his roles in the ‘Transporter’ series of films.
July 26, 1967: Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is one of Hollywood’s most successful actresses. She has starred in such films as ‘The Blind Side,’ and ‘Gravity.’
July 28, 1866: Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter, author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was also a mushroom expert.
July 28, 1929: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was the wife of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963.
July 30, 1929: Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. He is credited with developing the assembly line method of mass production.
July 30, 1947: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, bodybuilder, businessman, and former politician who served as the 38th Governor of California.
July 31, 1965: J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling is the author of the ‘Harry Potter’ series of books, which have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide.
Not so fast, we’re not done with presenting even more July trivia and fun facts about this jubilant month! Of the following trivia and amazing facts, how many do YOU already know about July?
So, there you have it: a comprehensive list of fascinating and wacky fun facts about July, trivia, and information about the month to complete our fun list!
For additional reading, be sure to check out these four blog articles for amazing fun facts about February, March, April, May and June:
“Eight Reasons Why February is So Special”
“Amazing Fun Facts About March”
“Whimsical Sayings About April”
“Amazing Fun Facts About May You Will Love”
“Discover Fun Facts About June”
WOW! so much first time to know here! And so much active stuff! Its like a time do stretch and work those muscles out hehe
I think the ice cream day and hammock day should be combined!!
Yes, I sooo agree! 🙂
How ironic that today is National Egg Frying Day. I told Clay earlier, it’s so hot here, you can ‘fry and egg’ on the sidewalk! 🙂 So many Birthdays this month! Very entertaining ‘blog.’ You had to spend a lot of time putting this together. What a great idea for a ‘blog.’ Keep up the Good Work, Made You Smile Back. Made me, ‘SMILE.’ 🙂
Andrea, thank you so much for your very positive and kind words about my latest article, “Fabulous and Wacky Fun Facts About July”. I’m glad you liked it.
Happy July Everyone! July is the part of the year where renewed beginnings can occur and why not! Also July is the month of some special birthdays I love to celebrate, one of which is July 8th where I have not only my eldest daughter’s birthday… but also a special ‘internet buddy’ and someone special from Karachi Pakistan! So a big shout out to all three – Patty and Patty and Aiman! Happy Happy Birthday! And I can’t forget my dear dear friend, Gayle Hutcherson Wilt, born July 24th!