So you want to have a drink but you aren't sure why? Here are some GREAT reasons to call your friends over and have a party.

August 15th


- Earliest day on which Day of Hearts can fall, while August 21 is the latest; celebrated on the third Monday in August. (area around Haarlem and Amsterdam)
- Armed Forces Day (Poland)
- Christian Feast Day:
- Feast day of the Assumption of Mary, one of the Catholic Holy Day of Obligation. (Christianity, a public holiday in Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mauritius, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Togo, and Vanuatu), and its related observances:
Feast of the Dorm
- Ferragosto (Italy)
- Mother's Day (Antwerp and Costa Rica)
- National Acadian Day (Acadians)
- Virgin of Candelaria, patron of the Canary Islands. (Tenerife, Spain)
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Republic of the Congo from France in 1960.
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of India from the United Kingdom in 1947.
- Liberation Day, celebrates the independence of Korea from Japan in 1945:
- The first day of Flooding of the Nile, a commemoration of the belief that the star Sirius would appear when the Nile River flooded.(Egypt and Coptic Church)
- The main day of Bon Festival (Japan)
- Victory over Japan Day (United States)

August 15th


- 2007 - An 8.0-magnitude earthquake off the Pacific coast devastates Ica and various regions of Peru killing 514 and injuring 1,090.
- 1999 - Beni Ounif massacre in Algeria; some 29 people are killed at a false roadblock near the Moroccan border, leading to temporary tensions with Morocco.
- 1998 - Omagh bomb in Northern Ireland, the worst terrorist incident of The Troubles
- 1995 - In South Carolina, Shannon Faulkner becomes the first female cadet matriculated at The Citadel (she drops out less than a week later).
- 1984 - The PKK in Turkey starts a campaign of armed attacks upon the Turkish military
- 1977 - The Big Ear, a radio telescope operated by Ohio State University as part of the SETI project, receives a radio signal from deep space; the event is named the "Wow! signal" from the notation made by a volunteer on the project.
- 1975 - Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is killed along with most members of his family during a military coup.
- 1975 - Miki Takeo makes the first official pilgrimage to Yasukuni Shrine by an incumbent prime minister on the anniversary of the end of World War II.
- 1974 - Yuk Young-soo, First Lady of South Korea, is killed during an apparent assassination attempt upon President of South Korea, Park Chung-hee.
- 1973 - Vietnam War: The United States bombing of Cambodia ends.
- 1971 - President Richard Nixon completes the break from the gold standard by ending convertibility of the United States dollar into gold by foreign investors.
- 1971 - Bahrain gains independence from the United Kingdom.
- 1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Festival opens.
- 1965 - The Beatles play to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, in an event later seen as marking the birth of stadium rock.
- 1963 - Execution of Henry John Burnett, the last man to be hanged in Scotland.
- 1963 - President Fulbert Youlou is overthrown in the Republic of Congo, after a three-day uprising in the capital.
- 1962 - James Joseph Dresnok defects to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea after running across the Korean DMZ. Dresnok still resides in the capital, Pyongyang.
- 1961 - Conrad Schumann flees from East Germany while on duty guarding the construction of the Berlin Wall.
- 1960 - Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) becomes independent from France.
- 1954 - Alfredo Stroessner begins his dictatorship in Paraguay.
- 1952 - Devon, United Kingdom A flashflood drenches the town of Lynmouth, killing 34 people.
- 1950 - Srikakulam district is formed in Andhra Pradesh, India.
- 1948 - The Republic of Korea is established south of the 38th parallel north.
- 1947 - India gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.
- 1947 - Founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah is sworn in as first Governor General of Pakistan in Karachi.
- 1945 - World War II: Victory over Japan Day – Japan surrenders.
- 1945 - World War II: Korean Liberation Day.
- 1944 - World War II: Operation Dragoon – Allied forces land in southern France.
- 1942 - World War II: Operation Pedestal – The SS Ohio reaches the island of Malta barely afloat carrying vital fuel supplies for the island's defenses.
- 1941 - Corporal Josef Jakobs is executed by firing squad at the Tower of London at 7:12am, making him the last person to be executed at the Tower for treason.
- 1940 - An Italian submarine torpedoes and sinks the Greek cruiser Elli at Tinos harbour during peacetime, marking the most serious Italian provocation prior to the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in October.
- 1939 - 13 Stukas dive into the ground during a disastrous air-practice at Neuhammer. No survivors.
- 1935 - Will Rogers and Wiley Post are killed after their aircraft develops engine problems during takeoff in Barrow, Alaska.
- 1920 - Polish-Soviet War: Battle of Warsaw – Poles defeat the Red Army.
- 1914 - The Panama Canal opens to traffic with the transit of the cargo ship Ancon.
- 1914 - The First Russian Army, led by Pavel Rennenkampf, enters Eastern Prussia.
- 1914 - A male servant of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright sets fire to the living quarters of the architect's Wisconsin home, Taliesin, murders seven people and burns the living quarters to the ground.
- 1909 - A group of mid-level Greek Army officers launches the Goudi coup, seeking wide-ranging reforms.
- 1907 - Ordination in Constantinople of Fr. Raphael Morgan, first African-American Orthodox priest, "Priest-Apostolic" to America and the West Indies.
- 1891 - San Sebastian Church in Manila, the first all-steel church in Asia, is officially inaugurated and blessed.
- 1869 - The Meiji government in Japan establishes six new ministries, including one for Shinto.
- 1863 - The Anglo-Satsuma War begins between the Satsuma Domain of Japan and the United Kingdom (Traditional Japanese date: July 2, 1863).
- 1843 - The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, Hawaii is dedicated. Now the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, it is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States.
- 1843 - Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest still intact amusement parks in the world, opens in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 1824 - Freed American slaves found Liberia.
- 1760 - Seven Years' War: Battle of Liegnitz – Frederick the Great's victory over the Austrians under Ernst von Laudon.
- 1695 - French forces end the Bombardment of Brussels, leaving a third of the buildings in the city in ruins.
- 1599 - Nine Years War: Battle of Curlew Pass – Irish forces led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell successfully ambush English forces, led by Sir Conyers Clifford, sent to relieve Collooney Castle.
- 1549 - Jesuit priest Saint Francis Xavier comes ashore at Kagoshima (Traditional Japanese date: July 22, 1549).
- 1540 - Arequipa, Peru, is founded.
- 1537 - Asunción, Paraguay, is founded.
- 1534 - Saint Ignatius of Loyola and six classmates take initial vows, leading to the creation of the Society of Jesus in September 1540.
- 1519 - Panama City, Panama, is founded.
- 1517 - Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernăo Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary.
- 1483 - Pope Sixtus IV consecrates the Sistine Chapel.
- 1461 - The Empire of Trebizond surrenders to the forces of Sultan Mehmet II. This is regarded by some historians as the real end of the Byzantine Empire. Emperor David is exiled and later murdered.
- 1430 - Francesco Sforza, lord of Milan, conquers Lucca.
- 1309 - The city of Rhodes surrenders to the forces of the Knights of St. John, completing their conquest of Rhodes. The knights establish their headquarters on the island and rename themselves the Knights of Rhodes.
- 1261 - Michael VIII Palaeologus is crowned Byzantine emperor in Constantinople.
- 1248 - The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral, built to house the relics of the Three Wise Men, is laid. (Construction is eventually completed in .)
- 1185 - The cave city of Vardzia is consecrated by Queen Tamar of Georgia.
- 1057 - King Macbeth is killed at the Battle of Lumphanan by the forces of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada.
- 1040 - King Duncan I is killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth. The latter succeeds him as King of Scotland.
- 1018 - Byzantine general Eustathios Daphnomeles blinds and captures Ibatzes of Bulgaria by a ruse, thereby ending Bulgarian resistance against Emperor Basil II's conquest of Bulgaria.
- 982 - Holy Roman Emperor Otto II is defeated by the Saracens in the battle of Capo Colonna, in Calabria
- 927 - The Saracens conquer and destroy Taranto.
- 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed.

August 15th


- 1989 - Belinda, Mexican singer
- 1989 - Carlos Pena Jr., American actor and singer
- 1989 - Joe Jonas, American actor and singer
- 1988 - Tiffanie Anderson, American performer (Girlicious)
- 1982 - Casey Burgener, American weightlifter
- 1981 - Brendan Hansen, American swimmer
- 1981 - Song Ji-hyo, South Korean actress
- 1981 - Oliver Perez, American baseball player
- 1980 - Nathalie Press, English actress
- 1979 - Carl Edwards, American NASCAR driver
- 1978 - Tim Foreman, American bassist (Switchfoot)
- 1978 - Lilia Podkopayeva, Ukrainian gymnast
- 1978 - Stavros Tziortziopoulos, Greek footballer
- 1978 - Kerri Walsh, American beach volleyball player
- 1977 - Martin Biron, Canadian ice hockey goaltender
- 1977 - Igor Cassina, Italian gymnast
- 1977 - Nicole Paggi, American actress
- 1976 - Boudewijn Zenden, Dutch football player
- 1975 - Bertrand Berry, American football player
- 1975 - Vijay Bharadwaj, Indian cricketer
- 1975 - Brendan Morrison, Canadian hockey player
- 1975 - Kara Wolters, American basketball player
- 1974 - Natasha Henstridge, Canadian actress
- 1973 - Adnan Sami, music composer, singer
- 1973 - Adam Willard, Offspring drummer
- 1972 - Ben Affleck, American actor
- 1972 - Chris Morrissey, American film director/actor
- 1972 - Matthew Wood, American actor and sound editor
- 1972 - Jennifer Alexander, Canadian ballet dancer (d. 2007)
- 1970 - Anthony Anderson, American comedian and actor
- 1970 - Maddie Corman, American actress
- 1970 - Ben Silverman, American TV executive
- 1969 - Kevin Cheng, Hong Kong actor and singer
- 1969 - Cris Judd, American actor/choreographer
- 1969 - Bernard Fanning, Australian singer/songwriter (Powderfinger)
- 1968 - Debra Messing, American actress
- 1967 - Peter Hermann American actor
- 1966 - Scott Brosius, American baseball player
- 1966 - Shirley Kwan, Hong Kong singer
- 1966 - Dimitris Papadopoulos, Greek basketball player
- 1965 - Rob Thomas, American writer
- 1964 - Melinda French Gates, American wife of Bill Gates
- 1963 - Alejandro González Ińárritu, Mexican film director
- 1963 - Jack Russell, England cricketer
- 1963 - Valery Levaneuski, entrepreneur, politician, former political prisoner
- 1962 - Tom Colicchio, American chef
- 1961 - Ed Gillespie, American White House counsel to George W. Bush
- 1961 - Gary Kubiak, American football coach
- 1958 - Craig MacTavish, Canadian ice hockey player/coach
- 1958 - Victor Shenderovich, Russian satirist
- 1958 - Rondell Sheridan, American actor and comedian
- 1957 - Željko Ivanek, Slovenian-American actor
- 1956 - Lorraine Desmarais, French-Canadian jazz pianist and composer
- 1954 - Stieg Larsson, Swedish writer (d. 2004)
- 1954 - Mary Jo Salter, American poet
- 1951 - Ann Biderman, American film and television writer
- 1951 - Bobby Caldwell, American singer and musician
- 1951 - John Childs, England cricketer
- 1951 - Daba Diawara, Malian politician
- 1951 - Ranjan Gunatilleke, Sri Lankan cricketer
- 1950 - Tommy Aldridge, American musician
- 1950 - The Princess Anne, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom
- 1950 - Tom Kelly, American baseball manager
- 1949 - Beverly Lynn Burns, American pilot
- 1949 - Richard Deacon, Welsh sculptor
- 1949 - Garry Disher, Australian author
- 1949 - Mark B. Rosenberg, President of Florida International University
- 1948 - Uschi Digard, American pornographic actress and model
- 1948 - Patsy Gallant, Canadian pop singer
- 1948 - George Ryton, British engineer
- 1947 - Raakhee Gulzar, Indian actress
- 1947 - Jenny Hanley, British TV presenter
- 1946 - Tony Robinson, English actor and television presenter
- 1946 - Jimmy Webb, American musician and composer
- 1945 - Gene Upshaw, American football player and union leader (d. 2008)
- 1945 - Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladeshi politician
- 1944 - Linda Ellerbee, American journalist
- 1944 - Tom Murphy, American politician
- 1944 - Dimitris Sioufas, Greek lawyer and politician
- 1944 - Sylvie Vartan, Bulgarian pop singer
- 1943 - María Rojo, Mexican actress and politician
- 1942 - Larry Hartsell, American martial arts instructor (d. 2007)
- 1941 - Manolis Mavrommatis, Greek politician
- 1940 - Gudrun Ensslin, German terrorist (d. 1977)
- 1940 - Rita Shane, American soprano
- 1938 - Maxine Waters, American politician
- 1938 - Janusz A. Zajdel, Polish writer
- 1935 - Jim Dale, English actor
- 1935 - Vernon Jordan Jr., American presidential advisor
- 1935 - Lionel Taylor, American football player
- 1934 - Bobby Byrd, American soul/funk singer (d. 2007)
- 1934 - Nino Ferrer, French-Italian singer (d. 1998)
- 1934 - Reginald Scarlett, West Indian cricketer
- 1933 - Bobby Helms, American pop singer (d. 1997)
- 1933 - Jim Lange, American game show host
- 1930 - Ageeda Paavel, Estonian freedom fighter
- 1928 - Nicolas Roeg, English film director
- 1927 - Eddie Leadbeater, England cricketer
- 1926 - Costis Stephanopoulos, Greek politician
- 1926 - Sami Michael, Author and the President of The Association for Civil Rights in Israel
- 1925 - Mike Connors, American actor
- 1925 - Oscar Peterson, Canadian jazz pianist (d. 2007)
- 1925 - Bill Pinkney, American baritone singer (d. 2007)
- 1924 - Robert Bolt, English playwright and screenwriter (d. 1995)
- 1924 - Werner Abrolat, German actor (d. 1997)
- 1923 - Rose Marie, American actress
- 1922 - Lukas Foss, German-born composer (d. 2009)
- 1922 - Leonard Baskin, American sculptor and graphic artist (d. 2000)
- 1922 - Giorgos Mouzakis, Greek songwriter and musician (d. 2005)
- 1919 - Huntz Hall, American actor (d. 1999)
- 1919 - Benedict Kiely, Irish author (d. 2007)
- 1917 - Jack Lynch, Irish politician (d. 1999)
- 1917 - Oscar Romero, El Salvador Roman Catholic priest (d. 1980)
- 1916 - Aleks Çaçi, Albanian writer (d. 1989)
- 1914 - Paul Rand, American graphic designer (d. 1996)
- 1912 - Julia Child, American cook (d. 2004)
- 1912 - Dame Wendy Hiller, English actress (d. 2003)
- 1910 - Signe Hasso, Swedish actress (d. 2002)
- 1909 - Hugo Winterhalter, American composer and bandleader (d. 1973)
- 1905 - Emile St. Godard, Canadian dog sled racer (d. 1948)
- 1904 - George Klein, Canadian inventor (d. 1992)
- 1901 - Pyotr Novikov, Russian mathematician (d. 1975)
- 1900 - Estelle Brody, American actress (d. 1995)
- 1898 - Jan Brzechwa, Polish poet (d. 1966)
- 1896 - Gerty Cori, Austrian-born biochemist, Nobel Prize Laureate (d. 1957)
- 1896 - Catherine Doherty, Russian-born Canadian activist (d. 1985)
- 1896 - Paul Outerbridge, American photographer (d. 1958)
- 1896 - Leon Theremin, Russian inventor (d. 1993)
- 1893 - Leslie Comrie, New Zealand astronomer and computing pioneer (d. 1950)
- 1892 - Louis, 7th duc de Broglie, French physicist, Nobel Prize Laureate (d. 1987)
- 1890 - Jacques Ibert, French composer (d. 1962)
- 1890 - Elizabeth Bolden, American Supercentenarian (d. 2006)
- 1886 - Bill Whitty, Australian cricketer (d. 1974)
- 1885 - Edna Ferber, American novelist (d. 1968)
- 1883 - Ivan Meštrovi?, Croatian sculptor (d. 1962)
- 1881 - Alfred Wagenknecht, German-born American activist (d. 1956)
- 1879 - Ethel Barrymore, American actress (d. 1959)
- 1878 - Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel, Russian counter-revolutionary (d. 1928)
- 1877 - Tachiyama Mineemon, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 22nd Yokozuna (d. 1941)
- 1876 - Stylianos Gonatas, Greek military officer and Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1966)
- 1875 - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, English composer (d. 1912)
- 1872 - Sri Aurobindo, Indian writer and philosopher (d. 1950)
- 1865 - Usui Mikao, Japanese founder of Reiki (d. 1926)
- 1863 - Alexei Krylov, Russian engineer and mathematician (d. 1945)
- 1860 - Henrietta Vinton Davis, American elocutionist (d. 1941)
- 1860 - Florence Harding, American First Lady (d. 1924)
- 1859 - Charles Comiskey, American baseball owner (d. 1931)
- 1858 - E. Nesbit, English author (d. 1924)
- 1857 - Albert Ballin, German shipping tycoon (d. 1918)
- 1856 - Ivan Franko, Ukrainian writer (d. 1916)
- 1844 - Thomas-Alfred Bernier, Canadian journalist and politician (d. 1908)
- 1813 - Jules Grévy, 2nd President of the French Third Republic (d. 1891)
- 1785 - Thomas De Quincey, English author (d. 1859)
- 1771 - Sir Walter Scott, Scottish novelist and poet (d. 1832)
- 1769 - Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France (d. 1821)
- 1740 - Matthias Claudius, German poet (d. 1815)
- 1717 - Blind Jack, English roadbuilder (d. 1810)
- 1613 - Gilles Ménage, French scholar (d. 1692)
- 1575 - Bartol Kaši?, Croatian writer and linguist (d. 1650)
- 1432 - Luigi Pulci, Italian poet (d. 1484)
- 1195 - Anthony of Padua, Portuguese saint (d. 1231)
- 1171 - King Alfonso IX of Leon (d. 1230)