Pancake Day

Pancake Day was first recorded in 1439. People were supposed to fast certain foods during Lent. They made pancakes to use up eggs and butter before Lent. Pancake Day is also called Shrove Tuesday. To shrive meant to confess your sins. So people 'shrove' their sins before Lent. The word Lent was an old English word meaning lengthen because the days are getting longer. Find out more in my history of cakes.

Salem Witch Trials

In 1702 the General Court (legislature) of Massachusetts overturned the convictions for witchcraft in Salem and in 1711 they granted compensation to the relatives of the victims bringing the whole sorry episode to an end. In the early 18th century belief in witches died out. Finally, in 1992 a memorial was erected to those who were wrongly executed at Salem. 

Nancy Astor

On 24 February Nancy Astor the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons made her first speech. www.localhistories.org/vote.html 

Estonia

24 February is Estonian Independence Day www.localhistories.org/estonia.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_nR5Mahp8A 

The slave trade

The first country to abolish the slave trade was Denmark in 1792 (although the ban did not take effect until 1803). Britain followed in 1807. The USA abolished the slave trade in 1808. Other European countries followed. Sweden abolished the slave trade in 1813, The Netherlands in 1814, France in 1815, and Spain in 1820. Brazil ended the slave trade in 1851. localhistories.org/a-brief-history-of-slavery

George Washington

George Washington was born on 22 February 1732 www.localhistories.org/washingtonpres.html

John Glenn

On 20 February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth