September 29 in History

National Coffee Day

Without a doubt, September 29 is one of our very favorite days of the year, as it is time we get to celebrate National Coffee Day in honor of our favorite caffeinated nectar! It has been a bit of a challenge to pinpoint the exact origins of National Coffee Day. However, an event was promoted in Japan as early as 1983. The first public mention of National Coffee Day here in the States was back in 2005, and it has become an annual celebration for all things coffee ever since. 

Many national coffee chains such as Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Pete’s Coffee, and Krispy Kreme offer free or discounted coffee beverages on this day as if we needed an excuse to snatch up even more joe than usual on this day! 

Coffee was introduced into our lives in the middle of the 15th century by the SUFI monasteries around Mokha in Yemen. It is in this area of the world where the first coffee seeds were fire-roasted and brewed, prepared much the same way as it is today. Yemeni traders brought coffee back to their homeland, where the first coffee trees were grown.  In the year of 1670, coffee seeds were smuggled out of the Middle East and planted in Mysore. Coffee then spread to Italy, Europe, Indonesia, and finally the Americas. 

These days the average coffee drinker consumes approximately 1.3 cups of coffee per day, but if you are anything like us, it’s more like 3 or 4, and over 150 million Americans consume coffee daily. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy a good cup of java as it can be made hot or cold, sweet or unsweet, black or with cream, as well as a variety of different flavors or syrups depending upon your tastes.  

480 BC – Battle of Salamis: The Greek fleet under Themistocles defeated the Persian fleet under Xerxes I. This was a few weeks after the famous Battle of Thermopylae (with King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans).

1829 – Scotland Yard went on patrol for the first time.

1938 – The Treaty of Munich was signed by Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Daladier & Chamberlain. Contrary to some overly optimistic high hopes, it did not prevent World War II.

1957 – Kyshtym Disaster at Plutonium Production Plant, USSR

#1 Hit September 29, 1958 – November 9, 1958: Tommy Edwards – It’s All in the Game

1960 – My Three Sons debuted on ABC.

1963 – The Judy Garland Show debuted on CBS

1963 – Rolling Stones 1st tour, opening for Bo Diddley and The Everly Brothers.

1966 – The Chevrolet Camaro was introduced.

1969 – Love American Style premiered on ABC.

#1 Hit September 29, 1973 – October 5, 1973: Grand Funk – We’re an American Band

1975 – Singer Jackie Wilson had a heart attack on stage, resulting in a 9-year coma. (He died in 1984)

1979 – Gold hit $400/ounce for the first time.

1982 – Cheers premiered on NBC.

#1 Hit September 29, 1984 – October 12, 1984: Prince and The Revolution – Let’s Go Crazy

1985 – The first of seven cyanide-laced Tylenol victims died. This event is what made manufacturers begin using tamper-proof packaging.

1988- The space shuttle Discovery was launched- the first since the Challenger disaster.

1989 – Zsa Zsa Gabor was convicted of slapping a police officer in Beverly Hills. The assault occurred on June 14, 1989.

#1 Hit September 29, 1990 – October 5, 1990: Nelson  – (Can’t Live Without Your) Love And Affection

1990 – Millie’s Book, written by 1st Lady Barbara Bush, was released about the president’s dog, a best-selling non-fiction book.

1992 – Magic Johnson came out of retirement to play for the Los Angeles Lakers after retiring less than a year earlier. He retired again in 1996.

1994 – The 304 jurors and alternate jurors were chosen for O.J. Simpson’s murder trial.

1996 – Nintendo 64 video game system debuted in America. It came about in Japan a few months earlier.

2001 – Yu-Gi-Oh! premiered on Kid’s WB

#1 Hit September 29, 2007 – November 9, 2007: Kanye West – Stronger

2008 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points, the largest single-day point loss by that time in history.

#1 Hit September 29, 2012 – November 30, 2012: Maroon 5 – One More Night

#1 Hit September 29, 2018 – November 16, 2018: Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B – Girls Like You