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.

February 17th


- Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008, still under dispute.
- February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Christian Feast Day:
- Constabilis
- Fintan of Clonenagh
- Lommán of Trim
- Quirinalia, in honor of Quirinus (Roman Empire)
- The first day of Hachinohe Enburi (Hachinohe)

February 17th


- 2008 - Kosovo declares independence.
- 2006 - A massive mudslide occurs in Southern Leyte, Philippines; the official death toll is set at 1,126.
- 2003 - The London Congestion Charge scheme begins.
- 1996 - In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.
- 1996 - NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid, 433 Eros.
- 1995 - Colin Ferguson is convicted of six counts of murder for the December Long Island Rail Road shootings and later receives a 200+ year sentence.
- 1995 - The Cenepa War between Peru and Ecuador ends on a cease-fire brokered by the UN.
- 1979 - The Sino-Vietnamese War begins.
- 1978 - The Troubles: The Provisional IRA detonates an incendiary bomb at the La Mon restaurant, near Belfast, killing 12 and seriously injuring 30.
- 1974 - Robert K. Preston, a disgruntled U.S. Army private, buzzes the White House in a stolen helicopter.
- 1972 - Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model-T.
- 1968 - In Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opens.
- 1965 - Project Ranger: The Ranger 8 probe launches on its mission to photograph the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in preparation for the manned Apollo missions. Mare Tranquillitatis or the "Sea of Tranquility" would become the site chosen for the Apollo 11 lunar landing.
- 1964 - In Wesberry v. Sanders the Supreme Court of the United States rules that congressional districts have to be approximately equal in population.
- 1964 - Gabonese president Leon M'ba is toppled by a coup and his rival, Jean-Hilaire Aubame, is installed in his place.
- 1962 - A storm kills more than 300 people in Hamburg, West Germany.
- 1959 - Project Vanguard: Vanguard 2 – The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution.
- 1958 - Pope Pius XII declares Saint Clare of Assisi (1193~1253) the patron saint of television.
- 1957 - A fire at a home for the elderly in Warrenton, Missouri, kills 72 people.
- 1947 - The Voice of America begins transmitting radio broadcasts to the Soviet Union.
- 1944 - World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok Atoll begins. The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.
- 1944 - World War II: Operation Hailstone begins. U.S. naval air, surface, and submarine attack against Truk (Chuuk), Japan's main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion.
- 1933 - Newsweek magazine is published for the first time.
- 1933 - The Blaine Act ends Prohibition in the United States.
- 1925 - Harold Ross and Jane Grant found The New Yorker magazine; the debut issue is dated February 21, 1925.
- 1924 - In Miami, Florida, Johnny Weissmuller sets a new world record in the 100-yard freestyle swimming competition with a time of 522?5 seconds.
- 1913 - The Armory Show opens in New York City, displaying works of artists who are to become some of the most influential painters of the early 20th century.
- 1904 - Madama Butterfly receives its premičre at La Scala in Milan.
- 1903 - El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico becomes part of the United States National Forest System as the Luquillo Forest Reserve.
- 1871 - The victorious Prussian Army parades though Paris, France after the end of the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.
- 1867 - The first ship passes through the Suez Canal.
- 1865 - American Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina, is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces.
- 1864 - American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
- 1854 - The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Orange Free State.
- 1819 - The United States House of Representatives passes the Missouri Compromise.
- 1814 - The Battle of Mormans.
- 1809 - Miami University is chartered by the State of Ohio.
- 1801 - An electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States and Burr Vice President by the United States House of Representatives.
- 1753 - In Sweden February 17 is followed by March 1 as the country moves from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.
- 1621 - Myles Standish is appointed as first commander of Plymouth colony.
- 1600 - The philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori in Rome for heresy.
- 1500 - The Battle of Hemmingstedt.
- 1370 - The Battle of Rudau.

February 17th


- 1996 - Sasha Pieterse, South African-born American actress.
- 1992 - Meaghan Jette Martin, American actress and singer
- 1991 - Bonnie Wright, British actress
- 1989 - Rebecca Adlington, British swimmer
- 1988 - Natascha Kampusch, Austrian kidnapping victim
- 1986 - Joey O'Brien, Irish footballer
- 1985 - Anne Curtis, Filipino actress and commercial model
- 1985 - Anders Jacobsen, Norwegian skijumper
- 1984 - AB de Villiers, South African cricketer
- 1984 - Sadha, South Indian film actress
- 1984 - Jimmy Jacobs, American professional wrestler
- 1984 - Kenta Kamakari, Japanese actor and seiyuu
- 1983 - Gérald Cid, French footballer
- 1983 - Marios Kaperonis, Greek boxer
- 1983 - Kevin Rudolf, American Singer-Songwriter
- 1982 - Adriano, Brazilian footballer
- 1982 - Brian Bruney, American baseball player
- 1982 - Steven Pienaar, South African footballer
- 1981 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor
- 1981 - Paris Hilton, American actress and heiress
- 1980 - Al Harrington, American basketball player
- 1980 - Klemi Saban, Israeli footballer
- 1980 - Jason Ritter, American actor
- 1979 - Dee, Puerto Rican pornographic actress
- 1979 - Josh Willingham, American baseball player
- 1978 - Jacob Wetterling, American kidnapping victim
- 1977 - Wong Choong Hann, Malaysian Badminton player
- 1976 - Kelly Carlson, American actress
- 1976 - Scott Williamson, American baseball player
- 1976 - William Roussel, French musician (Mütiilation)
- 1975 - Wish Bone, American rapper (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony)
- 1975 - Harisu, South Korean singer, model and actress
- 1975 - Todd Harvey, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1975 - Vaclav Prospal, Czech ice hockey player
- 1974 - Kaoru, Japanese musician
- 1974 - Jerry O'Connell, American actor
- 1974 - Bryan White, American singer
- 1973 - Drew Barry, American basketball player
- 1973 - Raphaël Ibańez, French rugby union footballer
- 1973 - SaRenna Lee, American pornographic actress
- 1972 - Valeria Mazza, Argentinian model
- 1972 - Yuki Isoya, Japanese singer (formerly Judy and Mary)
- 1972 - Billie Joe Armstrong, American musician (Green Day)
- 1972 - LG Petrov, Swedish singer (Entombed)
- 1972 - Philippe Candeloro, French figure skater
- 1972 - Taylor Hawkins, American musician (Foo Fighters)
- 1972 - Ralphie May, American comedian
- 1971 - Martyn Bennett, Canadian composer (d. 2005)
- 1971 - Jeremy Edwards, British actor
- 1971 - Denise Richards, American actress
- 1970 - Tim Mahoney, American musician (311)
- 1970 - Tommy Moe, American Olympic skier
- 1970 - Dominic Purcell, English-born actor
- 1969 - David Douillet, French judoka, multiple olympic medalist
- 1969 - Tuesday Knight, American actress
- 1968 - Bryan Cox, American football player
- 1967 - Chanté Moore, American singer
- 1966 - Michael Lepond, American musician (Symphony X)
- 1966 - Quorthon, Swedish musician (Bathory) (d. 2004)
- 1966 - Luc Robitaille, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1965 - Michael Bay, American film director
- 1964 - Buster Olney, American sports columnist
- 1963 - Alison Hargreaves, British mountaineer (d. 1995)
- 1963 - Jen-Hsun Huang, American entrepreneur and businessman
- 1963 - Michael Jordan, American basketball player
- 1963 - Larry the Cable Guy, American comedian and actor
- 1963 - Rene Syler, American journalist
- 1962 - Samuel Bayer, American music video director
- 1962 - Tyrone "Ty" Jones, American screenwriter
- 1962 - David McComb, Australian musician (The Triffids) (d. 1999)
- 1962 - Lou Diamond Phillips, American actor
- 1959 - Aryeh Deri, Israeli rabbi and politician
- 1959 - Neil Lomax, American football player
- 1959 - Rowdy Gaines, American swimmer
- 1957 - Loreena McKennitt, Canadian musician
- 1956 - Richard Karn, American actor
- 1955 - David Nakayama, American actor
- 1955 - Mo Yan, Chinese novelist
- 1954 - Rene Russo, American actress
- 1953 - Norman Pace, British actor and comic
- 1952 - Karin Janz, East German gymnast
- 1951 - Rashid Minhas, Pilot officer in Pakistan Air Force during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (d. 1971)
- 1949 - Fred Frith, English musician and composer
- 1948 - José José, Mexican singer and actor
- 1948 - Rick Majerus, American basketball coach
- 1948 - Don Scardino, American television director and actor
- 1946 - Dodie Stevens, American singer
- 1945 - Zina Bethune, American actress
- 1945 - Brenda Fricker, Irish actress
- 1944 - Karl Jenkins, Welsh composer
- 1943 - Costas Azariadis, Greek macroeconomist
- 1942 - Huey P. Newton, American political activist (d. 1989)
- 1941 - Julia McKenzie, English actress and theatre director
- 1940 - Gene Pitney, American singer (d. 2006)
- 1939 - John Leyton, British singer
- 1939 - Mary Ann Mobley, American actress and beauty queen
- 1936 - Jim Brown, American football player
- 1935 - Christina Pickles, UK-born American actress
- 1934 - Alan Bates, English actor (d. 2003)
- 1934 - Barry Humphries, Australian actor and comedian
- 1933 - Bobby Lewis, American singer
- 1933 - Craig L. Thomas, American politician (d. 2007)
- 1932 - Buck Trent, American banjo player
- 1930 - Roger Craig, American baseball player and manager
- 1930 - Ruth Rendell, English writer
- 1929 - Patricia Routledge, English actress
- 1929 - Paul Meger, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1929 - Chaim Potok, American author (d. 2002)
- 1928 - Marta Romero, Puerto Rican actress & singer
- 1925 - Ron Goodwin, English composer and conductor (d. 2003)
- 1925 - Hal Holbrook, American actor
- 1924 - Margaret Truman, American novelist (d. 2008)
- 1922 - Enrico Banducci, American nightclub owner (d. 2007)
- 1922 - Tommy Edwards, American singer (d. 1969)
- 1922 - Valentino Mazzia, American forensic anesthesiologist (d. 1999)
- 1922 - Marshall Teague, American race car driver (d. 1959)
- 1920 - Ivo Caprino, Norwegian animated film director (d. 2001)
- 1919 - Kathleen Freeman, American actress (d. 2001)
- 1917 - Abdur Rahman Badawi, Egyptian philosopher (d. 2002)
- 1917 - Guillermo González Camarena, Mexican inventor (d. 1965)
- 1916 - Raf Vallone, Italian actor (d. 2002)
- 1916 - Alexander Obolensky, Russian prince and Rugby Union footballer (d. 1940)
- 1914 - Arthur Kennedy, American actor (d. 1990)
- 1914 - Wayne Morris, American actor (d. 1959)
- 1912 - Andre Norton, American author (d. 2005)
- 1911 - Oskar Seidlin, Silesian-born American literary scholar (d. 1984)
- 1911 - Orrin Tucker, American bandleader and composer
- 1910 - Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (d. 1979)
- 1910 - Marc Lawrence, American actor (d. 2005)
- 1908 - Red Barber, American baseball announcer (d. 1992)
- 1908 - Bo Yibo, Chinese politician (d. 2005)
- 1904 - Hans Morgenthau, German political philosopher (d. 1980)
- 1903 - Sadegh Hedayat, Iranian writer (d. 1951)
- 1893 - Wally Pipp, American baseball player (d. 1965)
- 1891 - Abraham Fraenkel, German-born Israeli mathematician and recipient of the Israel Prize (d. 1965)
- 1890 - Sir Ronald Fisher, Statistician and Geneticist (d. 1962)
- 1888 - Otto Stern, German physicist, Nobel Prize Laureate (d. 1969)
- 1887 - Leevi Madetoja, Finnish composer (d. 1947)
- 1885 - Steve Evans, American baseball player (d. 1943)
- 1877 - Isabelle Eberhardt, Swiss explorer and writer (d. 1904)
- 1877 - André Maginot, French politician (d. 1932)
- 1874 - Thomas J. Watson, American computer manufacturer (d. 1956)
- 1864 - Jozef Murgaš, Slovak inventor (d. 1929)
- 1864 - Banjo Paterson, Australian poet (d. 1941)
- 1863 - Fyodor Sologub, Russian symbolist novelist and poet (d. 1927)
- 1862 - Mori ?gai, Japanese novelist and poet (d. 1922)
- 1861 - Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany (d. 1922)
- 1854 - Friedrich Alfred Krupp, German industrialist (d. 1902)
- 1848 - Louisa Lawson, Australian suffragist and writer (d. 1920)
- 1848 - Albert Gustaf Dahlman, Swedish executioner, the last to carry out capital punishment in Sweden (d. 1920)
- 1844 - Aaron Montgomery Ward, American department store founder (d. 1913)
- 1836 - Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Spanish poet (d. 1870)
- 1821 - Lola Montez, Irish dancer (d. 1861)
- 1820 - Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau, Catholic cardinal (d. 1898)
- 1820 - Henri Vieuxtemps, Belgian composer (d. 1881)
- 1816 - Haller Nutt, Southern Plantation owner (d. 1864)
- 1796 - Philipp Franz von Siebold, German physician (d. 1866)
- 1792 - Karl Ernst von Baer, German biologist (d. 1876)
- 1781 - René Laënnec, French physician (d. 1826)
- 1754 - Nicolas Baudin, French explorer (d. 1803)
- 1752 - Friedrich Maximilian Klinger, German writer (d. 1831)
- 1723 - Tobias Mayer, German astronomer (d. 1762)
- 1718 - Matthew Tilghman, American Continental Congressman (d. 1790)
- 1653 - Arcangelo Corelli, Italian composer (d. 1713)
- 1646 - Pierre Le Pesant, sieur de Boisguilbert, French economist (d. 1714)
- 1581 - Fausto Poli, Italian Catholic priest (d. 1653)
- 1524 - Charles of Guise, French cardinal (d. 1574)
- 1519 - Francis, Duke of Guise, French soldier and politician (d. 1563)
- 1490 - Charles III, Duke of Bourbon, Constable of France (d. 1527)