AUGUST 15 — KARL KORSCH
Brilliant Marxist-anarchist philosopher, communist.
August 15, 2009 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
Loule, Portugal: ASSUMPTION DAY. The ascension of Virgin Mary bodily into Heaven. Votive lights, skyrockets, brass band plays while running uphill to the shrine. Hundreds of guitars, bagpipes, drums, and a definite “pagan” flavor.
Florida, New York: OUR LADY OF FLOWERS Festival, with Polish celebrants parading in floats, and picking of an Onion Queen. A blessing of herbs and spices.
CHAUVIN DAY, the patron saint of all Chauvinists.
DORMITION OF THE OTOKOS.
ALSO ON AUGUST 15 IN HISTORY…
1785 — Opium-eater, writer Thomas DeQuincey born.
1886 — Marxist-anarchist philosopher Karl Korsch born, Tostedt, Germany.
1888 — T. E. Lawrence “of Arabia” born, Tremadog, Caernarfonshire, Wales.
1917 — Salvadorean religious leader Oscar Romero born, Ciudad Barrios.
1918 — “The Sinking of the Lusitania,” first feature-length cartoon, released.
1935 — American humorist Will Rogers killed in plane crash, Alaska.
1967 — Surrealist painter René Magritte dies, Brussels, Belgium.
1969 — Temporary Autonomous Zone “Woodstock” Festival opens, upstate New York