Here is the almanac of April 19, 2024: saints, events, proverb of the day, reading tips

It’s April 19th, today is a day full of interesting and important events! Are you ready to discover everything this date has to offer?

Saints of the Day

• Saint Expedito of Melitene (Martyr): Invoked for urgent causes, often depicted with a raven crying “tomorrow” at him.
• Saint Emma of Saxony (Widow): Promoter of numerous works of charity and devotion, beatified in 2011.
• Saint Leo IX (Pope): Church reformer and supporter of the Eastern Schism, known for his fight against simony.
• Saint Gerold (Hermit): Lived in solitude in the Brocéliande forest, venerated as the patron saint of woodcutters.
• San Mappalico (Martyr): Roman centurion converted to Christianity and martyred under Diocletian.
• Saint Varnerius (Werner) of Oberwesel (Martyr): German priest killed by brigands in 1287.
• Saint Elfego (Elfege) of Canterbury (Bishop): Archbishop of Canterbury martyred by the Danes in 1012.

It happened today

• 1987 – First Simpsons TV show (36 years ago): The world’s most famous animated sitcom, an irreverent satire of American society, makes its debut on Fox.

Born on this day

• 1957 – Lilli Gruber (66 years ago): Italian journalist and television presenter, nicknamed “the redhead” for her hair and her political positions.
• 1932 – Fernando Botero (91 years ago): Colombian painter and sculptor, famous for his monumental figurative style and his works inspired by the daily life of his country.
• 1953 – Sara Simeoni (70 years ago): Former Italian high jumper, European champion and bronze medalist at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
• 1987 – Maria Sharapova (36 years ago): Former Russian tennis player, winner of five Grand Slam titles and silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Google Doodles

• Seville April Fair: Celebrated annually in Andalusia, this lively festival features music, flamenco, bullfighting and centuries-old traditions.

Disappeared today

• 1882 – Charles Darwin (141 years ago): English naturalist and geologist, father of the theory of evolution by natural selection.
• 1906 – Pierre Curie (117 years ago): French physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics in 1903 for his studies on radioactivity, who died in a road accident.

Proverb of the day

April, the old woman comes out of the den; and the young woman doesn’t want to go out

Reading recommendations

“Young Holden” 1951 novel written by JD Salinger. It’s a classic coming-of-age story. Young Holden Caulfield is a teenager grappling with loss, love and his place in the world. His story is both funny and touching and will resonate with readers for a long time.