Friday, 21st March 2008 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and World Down Syndrome Day and World Poetry Day and International Day of Forests and World Sleep Day. Explore 54 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Aries. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Friday, 21st March in London, GB.
On 21st March 2008, London experienced drizzly weather as the city moved into the astrological season of Aries. The moon was in a waning crescent phase, marking the final days before the new lunar cycle. London, situated on the River Thames in south-east England, serves as the capital and largest city in the United Kingdom, with a population exceeding eight million people within its administrative boundaries.
Throughout history, the date 21st March has been marked by significant events across the globe. In 1963, the Federal Bureau of Prisons closed Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, the notorious island prison in San Francisco Bay that had housed some of America's most dangerous criminals. Further back, in 1556, Thomas Cranmer, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the founders of Anglicanism, was burned at the stake for heresy in Oxford, England, a turning point in the religious history of the British Isles. These historical events demonstrate how particular dates often intersect with moments that reshaped institutions and belief systems across continents.
The significance of 21st March extends beyond these historical markers. Jack Dorsey sent the first message on Twitter in 2006, an event that would eventually transform global communication and social networks. Such technological milestones, alongside political upheaval and institutional changes, illustrate the diverse nature of history recorded on single calendar dates.
DayAtlas provides a comprehensive platform for exploring such historical connections. The site displays weather conditions for any given date and location, chronicles significant events, and documents notable births and deaths, allowing users to understand the fuller context of any day in history.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 21st March 2008
Expansion and nurture meet where intention becomes action.
Fortune of the Day
21st March in the Stars – Star Sign Aries
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on 21 March embody the classic Aries pioneer with a touch of Jupiter's wisdom. They are energetic, courageous, and direct, yet the Jupiter influence grants them deeper reflection than typical Aries. This blend creates inspiring leaders with genuine foresight.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths include assertiveness, optimism, and entrepreneurial drive. However, impulsivity can lead them to overlook consequences. Numerology 6 softens this tendency while also encouraging them to take on too many responsibilities.
Love In relationships, these individuals bring passion and honesty, paired with genuine interest in their partner's growth. They seek kindred spirits who share their adventurous spirit. Numerology 6 reinforces loyalty and compassion.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they thrive in roles demanding initiative and leadership—entrepreneurship, management, or creative fields. Jupiter's expansion helps them envision bigger goals. Financially optimistic, yet they should prioritize long-term planning.
Health These natives possess natural vitality and love physical activity. Overextension through too many projects can strain them. Regular exercise, meditation, and purposeful rest sustain their wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its waning crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Rat (Earth).
Fun Facts About 21st March
Name Days in Your Language: Arvin, Arwin, Bendix, Benedict, Benedicta, Bennett
Someone born on this day in 2008 would be 18 years old today — just 6,631 days into life, which is roughly 159,150 hours, 9,549,058 minutes, or 572,943,525 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 81. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 285 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 12 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 21st March
- Ethan Nwaneri, English footballer (2007)
- Abbi Pulling, English racing driver (2003)
- Jace Norman, American actor (2000)
- Yoon San-ha, South Korean singer and actor (2000)
- Miles Bridges, American basketball player (1998)
- Nat Phillips, English footballer (1997)
- Martina Stoessel, Argentine singer and actress (1997)
- Aurora Mikalsen, Norwegian footballer (1996)
- RJ Cyler, American actor (1995)
- Nick Mullens, American football player (1995)
Lives Remembered on 21st March
- Loleatta Holloway, American singer-songwriter (born 1946) (2011)
- Gerd Klier, German footballer (born 1944) (2011)
- Ladislav Novák, Czech footballer and manager (born 1931) (2011)
- Pinetop Perkins, American singer and pianist (born 1913) (2011)
- Wolfgang Wagner, German director and manager (born 1919) (2010)
- Mohit Sharma, Indian army officer (born 1978) (2009)
- Walt Poddubny, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1960) (2009)
- Denis Cosgrove, English-American geographer and academic (born 1948) (2008)
- Guillermo Jullian de la Fuente, Chilean architect and academic (born 1931) (2008)
- John List, American murderer (born 1925) (2008)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 21st March
- Arbor Day (Lesotho)
- Arbor Day (Portugal)
- Christian feast day: Augustine Zhao Rong
- Christian feast day: Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
- Christian feast day: Passing of Saint Benedict (Order of Saint Benedict, pre-1970 Calendar)
- Christian feast day: Birillus
- Christian feast day: Enda of Aran
- Christian feast day: Nicholas of Flüe
- Christian feast day: Serapion of Thmuis
- Christian feast day: Thomas Cranmer (Anglicanism)
- Christian feast day: March 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Early music
- Education Freedom Day
- Harmony Day (Australia)
- Human Rights Day (South Africa)
- Independence Day (Namibia)
- International Colour Day (International)
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (International)
- International Day of Forests (International), by proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly
- Mother's Day (most of the Arab world)
- Natalicio de Benito Juárez, one of Fiestas Patrias (Mexico)
- Oltenia Day (Romania)
- Rosie the Riveter Day (United States)
- Truant's Day (Poland, Faroe Islands)
- Vernal equinox related observances (see also March 20)
- World Day for Glaciers (International)
- World Down Syndrome Day (International)
- World Poetry Day (International)
- World Puppetry Day (International)
- Youth Day (Tunisia)
What Happened on 21st March?
- China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crashes in Guangxi, China, killing 132 people. (2022)
- The 2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion occurs, killing at least 47 people and injuring 640 others. (2019)
- The social media site Twitter (now officially named X) is founded. (2006)
- Pope John Paul II makes his first ever pontifical visit to Israel. (2000)
- Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. (1999)
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change enters into force. (1994)
- Namibia becomes independent after 75 years of South African rule. (1990)
- Transbrasil Flight 801 crashes into a slum near São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, killing 25 people. (1989)
- Debi Thomas becomes the first African American to win the World Figure Skating Championships. (1986)
- Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen begins his circumnavigation of the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord injury medical research. (1985)