April 26th is known as Hug an Australian Day and Pretzel Day.
Welcome to the 117th day of the year! We’re gradually getting through the year, but we still have another 249 days left in 2024.
The history of this day will certainly impress you! Here we’ve hand-picked our most favorite historical events that happened on this special day. Not only that, but we’ve also got some other fun facts about April 26th.
Did you know that on this day in 1954, the first major mass trials of polio vaccines began? Around 443,000 children received shots in its first three months.
Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about April 26th in history!
Events
What memorable events happened on April 26 in history? Keep reading to find out!
2021
A Texas resident narrowly avoided a felony after forgetting to return a VHS rental tape after 22 years.
Caron McBride unknowingly had a copy of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” since 1999. Even though the store had since closed, her record still stated she was guilty of “felony embezzlement.” The case was since dropped, but McBride suspected her record was the reason for difficulty acquiring jobs.
2017
The Handmaid’s Tale debuted on Hulu.
![OTD in 2017: The Handmaid's Tale debuted on Hulu.](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/otd-2017-handsmaid-tale-debuted-656x394.webp)
It starred Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, and Yvonne Strahovski and is based on the book by Margaret Atwood.
Famous Births
Is today your birthday? If so, you share this special day with Channing Tatum! Check out more famous people born on this day below.
1980
Channing Tatum
American
Actor
![Channing Tatum](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/otd-channing-tatum-110x165.webp)
Age:
44 years old
Born In:
Alabama, USA
1970
Melania Trump
Slovene-American
First Lady
![Melania Trump](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/otd-melania-trump-110x165.webp)
Age:
54 years old
Born In:
Novo Mesto, Slovenia
1967
Kane
American
Wrestler
![Kane](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/otd-kane-110x165.webp)
Age:
57 years old
Born In:
Madrid, Spain
1977
Tom Welling
American
Actor
![Tom Welling](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/otd-tom-welling-110x165.webp)
Age:
47 years old
Born In:
New York, USA
Special Holidays
If you can spare some time today, here are some unique holidays you could get involved with.
![April 26: National Pretzel Day](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/otd-national-pretzel-day-320x160.webp)
National Pretzel Day
While soft pretzels date back to at least 1,000 AD, hard pretzels were only first created in the 1890s in the US, and the great pretzel debate has raged on ever since. So celebrate Pretzel day by baking some of your own or sharing a bag of pretzels with your friends.
![April 26: National Hug an Australian Day](https://www.thefactsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/otd-national-hug-an-australian-day-320x160.webp)
National Hug an Australian Day
Hugging other people helps build strong relationships; they are warming and display both empathy and compassion. So today, find yourself an Australian to hug, as it’s officially National Hug an Australian Day!
THe Fact Site’s
Fun Fact Of The Day
In 2007, Scotland spent £125,000 devising a new national slogan. The winning entry was: “Welcome to Scotland.”
Birthday & Zodiac
People who were born on April 26 share the Taurus star sign.
Taureans like to be in control, which makes them patient, logical, and well-grounded. They’re big thinkers and will often reflect deeply on many things in life, no matter how big or small. Taurus is an earth sign represented by the bull.
For those of you born in April, you have the Diamond birthstone. Diamonds have been used as decorative items since ancient times. They’re one of the most well-known gemstones in the world.
If your birthday falls on this day, you would’ve likely been conceived around August 3rd in the previous year.
A baby conceived on April 26, 2024, will likely be born around January 17, 2025.