May 25th is also known as Tap Dance Day and Towel Day.
We are now on the 145th day of the year, congratulations for making it this far into 2025. There are 220 days remaining until the end of the year.
To push you through the rest of the month check out all these interesting historical happenings that all occurred on this unique day, May 25th.
Did you know that on this day, May 25, 1992, Jay Leno became the permanent host of “The Tonight Show”. This was 3 days after the retirement of Johnny Carson as the show’s host.
Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about May 25th in history!
Historical Events
What memorable events happened on May 25 in history? Keep reading to find out!
SpaceX’s Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock at the International Space Station.
The spacecraft was named after the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" as a response to those who said the project was impossible. In addition to succeeding, Dragon also made a cargo delivery to the ISS on its voyage.
The South Lebanon Conflict, which began in 1985, ended on this day, and Lebanon became liberated.
This day is now celebrated every year as Lebanon Day of Liberation.
The Hands Across America charity event was held.
The goal was to make a human chain holding hands from California to New York. Although many areas weren't populated enough to make the line unbroken, about 5 to 6.5 million people held hands for 15 minutes. The event raised $15 million for charities.
Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor for committing gross acts of indecency with another male person.
He was shuffled around a few different prisons during these two years. There, he was forced to walk on treadmills and perform other mundane but physically exhausting tasks.
Martin Luther was declared an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.
Luther was a priest for 12 years before he started writing a list of things he thought needed changing in the Catholic church, which ultimately led to him being brought before the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. He refused to take back his words, for which he was excommunicated from the church and made an outlaw.
Famous Births
Are you celebrating your birthday today? If so, did you know that you share the same birthday as Ian McKellen? See what other famous people were born on this day.
1963
Mike Myers
Canadian Actor
Age
62 years old
Born IN
Ontario, Canada
1976
Cillian Murphy
Irish Actor
Age
49 years old
Born IN
Cork, Ireland
1939
Ian McKellen
English Actor
Age
86 years old
Born IN
England, UK
1944
Frank Oz
American Actor
Age
81 years old
Born IN
England, UK
1988
JJ Hamblett
English Musician
Age
37 years old
Born IN
England, UK
Birthday & Zodiac
For those of you who were born on this day, your star sign is Gemini.
Geminis love to know what’s going on in the world around them, including other people’s private lives, but this can sometimes get them into trouble, as it can be seen as them being nosey or gossipy.
People born in May all have the Emerald birthstone. The emerald has always been a highly treasured gemstone. The ancient Romans believed Emerald represented Venus, the Goddess of beauty and love.
If you were born on May 25th, you would likely have been conceived on or around September 1st of the previous year.
A baby conceived on this day will likely be born around February 15, 2026.
Quotes
Below are the most famous quotes people have said or written on this day throughout history.
1994
“Our single most important challenge is therefore to help establish a social order in which the freedom of the individual will truly mean the freedom of the individual.”
Nelson Mandela
(South African President)
1958
“One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often.”
Erich Fromm
(German Social Psychologist)
1925
“There is no substitute for hard work.”
Thomas A. Edison
(American Inventor)
Special Holidays
Looking for a reason to celebrate? Well, here's a few! These unique holidays are sure to bring some enjoyment to your day.
United States
National Tap Dance Day
Tap dancing began as one of America’s first original art forms as early as the mid-1800s, although it was heavily inspired by dances from across the UK, Europe, and Africa. Celebrate this beautiful form of dance by trying it yourself or going to see a tap dance show!
World
Towel Day
The great British author Douglas Adams once wrote that towels were the most useful thing you could own when hitchhiking through the galaxy. Towel Day honors Douglas Adam and all his brilliant works with participants packing their towels with them for the day.
Fact Of The Day
Days Until
Your countdown to 2025's upcoming special days!
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Flag Day
20 days
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Juneteenth
25 days
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Independence Day
40 days
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Halloween
159 days
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Christmas Day
214 days
