When we think about sport, the spotlight usually shines on the champions who cross the line first. Yet there’s a different kind of glory in the athletes who finish last but never quit. In this roundup of 10 celebrations last, we honor the ten unforgettable moments when finishing last became a triumph of heart, grit, and sheer determination.

10 The Unofficial Derby Cup: Honoring the Last to Cross the Line

Back in 1984, while soaking in a bathtub, Mike Cecil had a flash of inspiration that would later become a beloved Kentucky Derby tradition. He realized that while everyone cheers the winners, the horses that finish at the back never get a moment of recognition. Determined to change that, Mike dreamed up a plastic cup that would celebrate the horse that came in last.

To bring his quirky idea to life, Mike partnered with Bill Gdanic, a graphic designer who happened to be dating his sister. Together they crafted a fresh design for the “Unofficial Derby Cup” each year, spotlighting the last‑place horse with clever, tongue‑in‑cheek artwork. These novelty cups quickly became party favorites, sparking jokes and lively conversation at Derby gatherings.

Today the Unofficial Derby Cup is far more than a gag gift; it’s a cherished part of Derby culture. Sold at local liquor stores, the cups have even funded a few of Mike’s trips to Jamaica. The tradition serves as a gentle reminder that simply being part of the race is something to celebrate.

9 Boston Marathon’s Last‑Place Runner Earns His Medal

Maickel Melamed’s finish at the 2015 Boston Marathon was nothing short of awe‑inspiring. Born with a condition akin to muscular dystrophy, Melamed has spent his life confronting challenges most can’t imagine. Yet he tackled the world‑famous marathon, crossing the line after a grueling 20‑hour slog, long after the majority of runners had already left the course.

His perseverance caught the eye of Boston’s mayor, Martin Walsh, who arranged a special ceremony at City Hall to honor Melamed’s achievement. The event underscored that the marathon’s true spirit isn’t measured by speed but by heart. As Melamed declared, “The message here is that love is more powerful than death.”

Melamed’s story illustrates that the greatest victories aren’t always about finishing first, but about moving forward with courage when the odds are stacked against you. His finish may not have been the fastest, but it was certainly one of the most meaningful.

8 A Hero’s Welcome for the Last to Cross the Finish Line

During the 2018 Winter Olympics, German Madrazo didn’t earn a medal, yet he captured something far more valuable: the admiration of everyone who watched him cross the line. As the final competitor in the men’s 15‑kilometer cross‑country ski race, Madrazo arrived 23 minutes after the gold‑medal winner. Instead of silence, he was greeted by fellow athletes, including the famously shirtless Tongan, Pita Taufatofua, who cheered him as if he’d taken the podium.

Madrazo’s journey went beyond merely finishing. Representing Mexico—one of only four athletes from his nation at those Games and the first Mexican cross‑country skier in over twenty years—he proudly waved his flag as he crossed the line. The moment underscored the Olympic ideals of perseverance, national pride, and camaraderie that transcends competition.

Reflecting on the cheers, Madrazo likened the applause to the roar of a World Cup stadium, but noted it felt even better because it was solely for him. Though he finished last, that instant made him feel like a true winner.

7 From Last Place to a Comeback: Jourdan Delacruz’s Olympic Journey

Jourdan Delacruz’s debut at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics didn’t go as she hoped. In weightlifting, “bombing out” means failing all attempts at a lift, and that’s exactly what happened: she successfully snatched 189 pounds (88 kg) but could not clean and jerk the 238 pounds (108 kg) she attempted, landing her in last place.

The aftermath was rough. Isolated and feeling abandoned while her coach celebrated other Team USA athletes, Delacruz faced harsh headlines branding her a failure. Yet, with the help of a sports psychologist, she began to view the setback as just one chapter, not the whole story.

Since then, she’s rewritten her narrative: gold at the Pan American Championships, a bronze at the World Championships, and an American record in her weight class. Heading into the Paris Games, she finished fifth in the women’s 49 kg category, turning a last‑place finish into a triumphant comeback.

6 The Unseen Glory of the Lanterne Rouge

In professional cycling, the limelight usually falls on the front‑runners who don the yellow jersey and roar across the finish. Yet the Tour de France also honors a different kind of hero: the rider who finishes last, known as the Lanterne Rouge—a nod to the red lantern once hung at the end of a train.

The Lanterne Rouge isn’t a consolation prize; it’s a testament to a cyclist’s refusal to surrender, even when fatigue, harsh weather, and the mental strain of trailing loom large. These riders push through relentless conditions, battling both body and mind, just to cross the final line in Paris.

In a sport that typically celebrates speed, the Lanterne Rouge reminds us that sometimes simply finishing is a victory in itself—a quiet tribute to perseverance and the indomitable human spirit.

5 The Marathon Man Who Refused to Give Up

John Stephen Akhwari became more than a marathon runner at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics; he turned into a symbol of unyielding resolve. Representing Tanzania, he faced high‑altitude cramps and a collision that left him with a dislocated knee and a smashed shoulder. While most athletes would have quit, Akhwari pressed on.

Bandaged and limping, he entered the stadium more than an hour after the winner had finished and after most spectators had departed. The few remaining onlookers rose to their feet, cheering him as he crossed the line—not for glory, but for something deeper.

When asked why he didn’t quit, Akhwari replied, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish it.” His words endure as a reminder that true competition is often about seeing things through to the end.

4 Kelvin Ng’s Final Bow: A Legacy of Strength and Resilience

In the twilight of his gymnastics career, Hong Kong’s Kelvin Ng Kiu Chung delivered a performance driven as much by heart as by skill. Competing in the still‑rings final at the 2023 Asian Games, just days before his 32nd birthday, Ng placed eighth—but the placement mattered less than his personal fulfillment.

Ng had originally planned to retire in 2021 after a severe bicep injury. The birth of his daughter, however, inspired a comeback, fueling his desire to showcase what he could still achieve. He focused on delivering a routine that would make his family proud, channeling every emotion into a powerful dismount.

Ng’s impact extends beyond medals, including a historic bronze at the 2010 World Cup in Doha. As he steps away from competition, he’s already mentoring the next generation, ensuring his passion for gymnastics lives on.

3 Honoring Determination: The Story of the Red Lantern Award

In the rugged world of the Iditarod, finishing first isn’t the only accolade; the Red Lantern Award honors the musher who is the last to cross the finish line, celebrating sheer perseverance.

The tradition began in 1973, inspired by the practice of keeping a red lantern lit at the finish until the final musher arrived home. Over the decades, the award has come to symbolize more than endurance—it represents the spirit of never giving up, reminding us that merely completing the race is a remarkable feat.

For those who earn the Red Lantern, it’s not a mark of failure but a badge of honor, celebrating the courage to finish one of the world’s toughest races, no matter how long it takes.

2 The Midnight Triumph of Kona’s Last Finisher

In the heart of Kona, Hawaii, the Ironman World Championship isn’t just about the early finishers; the final moments before midnight spotlight the last athlete to cross the line, turning a long‑haul finish into a celebration of perseverance.

The last finisher endures a grueling 2.4‑mile swim, 112‑mile bike ride, and 26.2‑mile run, often battling fatigue for up to 17 hours. When they finally cross, volunteers and spectators—many of whom have been there for hours—rise to cheer, creating a thunderous reception that highlights the athlete’s grit.

Mike Reilly, the Ironman announcer who has witnessed nearly three decades of these emotional finishes, describes the scene as a true tribute to human determination. In Kona, finishing last becomes a celebration of resilience and commitment, underscoring that the Ironman spirit is about completing the journey, regardless of time.

1 A Marathon of a Lifetime: Shizo Kanakuri’s Unforgettable Finish

Shizo Kanakuri’s marathon saga is legendary. He entered the 1912 Stockholm Olympics but was forced to abandon the race due to extreme conditions and exhaustion. Though he never officially finished at the time, his story didn’t end there.

Fifty‑five years later, in 1967, Kanakuri returned to Stockholm with a mission: to complete the marathon he left unfinished. He crossed the course, earning a Guinness World Record for the longest time to finish a marathon—54 years, 8 months, and 6 days.

Kanakuri’s eventual finish stands as a powerful testament to enduring spirit and dedication, proving that the essence of a marathon lies not just in the race itself but in the commitment to see it through, no matter how long it takes.

When Valentine’s Day rolls around, most of us picture roses, chocolate, and candlelit dinners. But if you scan the planet for how love is actually celebrated, you’ll stumble upon a treasure trove of oddball customs that would make even Cupid raise an eyebrow. From post‑humous marriages in East Asia to government‑funded mass weddings in Southeast Asia, the world’s romance rituals can be as strange as they are heartfelt. Below, we count down the top 10 bizarre love traditions that prove affection knows no borders – or common sense.

Why These Top 10 Bizarre Love Traditions Matter

Understanding these unconventional ceremonies gives us a glimpse into the cultural values that shape how societies view partnership, destiny, and even the afterlife. Some customs aim to protect couples from misfortune, others turn love into a public spectacle, and a few simply celebrate the absurdity of human devotion. So buckle up, because we’re about to travel from haunted cemeteries to flaming bonfires, all in the name of love.

10 That’s The Spirit

China’s matrimonial archives are brimming with rituals that span millennia, but none is quite as eerie as the practice of ghost weddings. Originating over 3,000 years ago, this ceremony originally bound two deceased singles together in a symbolic union, complete with a paper dowry that featured miniature houses, gold jewelry, and other luxuries.

The “bride’s” family would negotiate a price, then arrange for the ceremony to unfold at the couple’s burial site. After the rites, the bride’s remains would be exhumed and placed beside the groom’s grave, effectively sealing their partnership for the afterlife. Compatibility checks were even performed, ensuring the pair’s ages and family backgrounds aligned on the other side.

Modern adaptations now permit a living individual to wed a departed soul, preserving the ancient belief that love can transcend mortality.

9 Sponsored Weddings

Wedding budgets can balloon faster than a champagne cork, especially when you factor in venue fees, floral arrangements, catering, and the ever‑essential designer gown. In the Philippines, the government stepped in to ease this financial strain by hosting a nationwide, state‑funded mass wedding every Valentine’s Day.

Couples simply turn up in their best attire, register ahead of time, and are whisked into a ceremony where everything—from bouquets and cake to rings and gifts—is provided free of charge. The only “cost” is showing up on time and wearing something that feels festive.

This initiative not only lightens the monetary load but also fosters a sense of community, as dozens—sometimes hundreds—of lovebirds exchange vows under one roof.

8 Why So Serious?

While most ceremonies are drenched in laughter and joy, some cultures demand a more solemn atmosphere. Among China’s Tuijia people, brides are expected to weep for at least an hour each day over a month before their wedding, a ritual believed to cleanse the soul and fortify the marriage.

In parts of India, a girl born under an inauspicious star is thought to bring death upon her husband. To break this curse, the girl must first marry a tree, then cut it down before marrying her human fiancé, symbolically severing the fatal link.

Further west, in the Congo, smiling is considered a sign of disrespect during the ceremony. Couples must maintain a stone‑faced demeanor throughout the proceedings; only after the honeymoon can they finally relax and let a grin escape.

7 Bloody Valentine

For those who prefer a dash of horror with their romance, London’s Dungeon turns Valentine’s Day into a macabre attraction. In 2011, visitors could purchase human‑heart‑shaped cupcakes while watching a live surgical demonstration in the Blood and Guts exhibit.

Six years later, the venue’s “Dark Valentine” campaign sparked controversy. Promotional posts that referenced Jack the Ripper and made crude jokes about women were deemed demeaning, prompting public backlash. The Dungeon issued a public apology, acknowledging the offense caused.

Despite the misstep, the event remains a testament to how far some will go to blend love with a thriller’s edge.

6 Shooting The Br(ide)

In the remote Yugur community of China, grooms demonstrate devotion by firing blunt arrows at their future brides. The arrowheads are removed beforehand, ensuring no harm, and after the symbolic shot, the groom shatters the arrows to seal the couple’s everlasting bond.

Scotland offers its own brand of bridal “torture.” Historically, Scottish brides were pelted with sour milk, dead fish, rotten food, and feathers. They were then tied to a tree for a period, a test of resilience meant to prove they could endure marital hardships.

Both customs, though starkly different, share a common theme: love is proven through endurance and symbolic acts that go beyond the ordinary.

5 Nail In The Coffin

Imagine lying inside a pink coffin on Valentine’s Day. In 2015, ten Thai couples gathered at Wat Ta Kien in Bang Kruay for exactly that experience. After making offerings to resident monks, the couples reclined inside a coffin, were draped with a white sheet, and received chants traditionally reserved for the deceased.

When the chanting concluded, monks prayed over the living couples, believing the ritual would ward off bad luck and protect the union from misfortune. The ceremony’s eerie atmosphere underscores the lengths to which some will go to secure a blessed partnership.

4 Symbols All Over The Place

Across Africa, couples often weave twelve symbolic items into their nuptial rites, each representing a facet of married life. Wheat stands for fertility, wine for the uniting of families, and pepper for inevitable arguments. Salt is added for preservation and healing, while water signifies purity and the washing away of negativity.

Bitter herbs echo the “growing pains” of a new marriage, a pot and spoon promise sustenance, a shield embodies home pride, and a spear offers protection. The final trio—honey for sweetness, a broom for a clean household, and a holy book for spiritual guidance—round out the symbolic tableau, reminding couples of the multifaceted nature of love.

3 Unrequited Love

While many nations celebrate Valentine’s Day with open affection, some governments have taken a hard stance against the holiday. In Saudi Arabia, public displays of affection are illegal, and the day itself has been banned to prevent Western influence. In 2012, five men received 39‑year prison sentences and a combined 4,500 lashes for drinking and dancing with women in public.

Pakistan followed suit in 2017, outlawing Valentine’s celebrations after a High Court ruling deemed them inconsistent with Muslim tradition. Russia’s Belgorod region also prohibited the holiday, arguing it undermines spiritual and moral development among youth.

2 Keep The Fire Burning

In France, a peculiar Valentine’s tradition once saw single men and women line up in opposite houses, calling through windows until each found a partner. The twist? Women who failed to secure a match were granted permission to light massive bonfires, burning photographs of the rejected suitors while hurling insults.

The spectacle quickly spiraled out of control, prompting authorities to ban the practice. Nonetheless, the episode illustrates how love can ignite both literal and figurative flames.

1 The Luck Of The Irish

Irish wedding folklore is rich with charms and tokens. Couples often slip a sixpence into the bride’s shoe and tuck a horseshoe into the bouquet for good fortune. Toasts may feature honey‑wine, and the wedding cake frequently showcases a traditional fruit cake.

Perhaps the most touching tradition involves a lace handkerchief, passed down through generations. The bride carries it down the aisle, often embroidered with the couple’s names and wedding date. After the ceremony, the handkerchief is repurposed into a bonnet for the christening of the couple’s first child, weaving the wedding’s memory into the next generation.

When the sun hangs at its highest point and daylight stretches into the night, the world erupts with 10 weird magical midsummer rites that blend folklore, fire, and fierce devotion. From northern lights to ancient stone circles, each tradition offers a glimpse into how cultures honor the longest day with a dash of mysticism and a splash of spectacle.

10 Weird Magical Highlights of the Summer Solstice

10 Sankthansaften

Sankthansaften, Denmark’s midsummer night affair, is named for Sankt Hans—St. John the Baptist—whose birthday falls on June 24. Like Christmas Eve, Danes revel on the night before, June 23, weaving the celebration together with the summer solstice, a date that can drift slightly each year because of calendar quirks.

The evening ignites with towering bonfires crowned by a witch effigy called a “heksedukke,” a cloth doll packed with firecrackers. Legend says that when the doll bursts, the witch is freed to soar toward Germany’s Mount Brocken, a famed gathering spot for witches worldwide. The bonfire custom harks back to medieval times when alleged witches were burned at the stake across Europe, while the practice of adding a witch doll dates to the 1920s.

Flames are lit around 10 p.m., and participants belt out the traditional anthem “Midsommervisen,” marking the day when some Danish regions bask in up to 18 hours of daylight.

9 Sun Dance

The Sun Dance stands as a sacred rite of endurance and self‑offering practiced by several Native American nations. The ceremony begins with the full moon nearest the midsummer peak, a moment when the sun reaches its zenith and the sage plant—symbolic of healing—is ready for harvest.

Great‑Plains tribes such as the Lakota, Cree, and Blackfoot devote an entire year to preparing for this pivotal event. The core theme revolves around renewal: dancers express gratitude to the sun by performing a painful “piercing” ritual, where wooden skewers are driven under the skin of the chest or shoulder blade. Rawhide cords attach the skewers to a central Sun Pole, and participants dance around the pole for hours, pulling until the flesh tears.

These peoples believe that without the Sun Dance, the earth would lose its vital link to the cosmos. European settlers found the ritual unsettling, leading to a ban around 1895. Nevertheless, many tribes kept the tradition alive in secrecy, and in 1978 President Carter’s American Indian Religious Freedom Act secured legal protection for such ceremonies.

8 Ivana‑Kupala

Deep in Eastern Europe, where harsh winters dominate, midsummer arrives as Ivana‑Kupala—a pagan fertility rite later merged with the feast of St. John (Ivan). Originally named after the summer sun “Kupalo,” the celebration blends sun worship with water rituals.

Water and fertility dominate the festivities: dawn dew is thought to possess healing powers, and participants bathe in rivers and lakes to cleanse body and spirit. The night is never spent sleeping, as folklore warns that witches and vampires roam after dark, prompting the lighting of bonfires to keep them at bay. Young men test bravery by leaping over the flames, while couples jump together to prove the strength of their bond.

Myth tells of a magical fern that sprouts in the forest on Kupala night; whoever discovers it first is said to receive a burst of good fortune.

7 Da Simmer Dim

The Shetland archipelago, perched 230 km north of Scotland at 60° N, enjoys roughly 19 hours of daylight at midsummer. Sunrises creep in around 4 a.m., while sunsets linger until 10:30 p.m., creating a unique twilight known locally as “da simmer dim”—the fleeting period when the sun dips just below the horizon, bathing the sky in milky white light before an orange glow returns.

Early Norse settlers, who revered Baldur, the god of light, marked the day by stacking bonfires with fish bones, straw, and seaweed, ignited with fish oil. A secretive courting tradition sees lovers meet at dusk, each picking a stalk of wild ribwort plantain. After removing the buds and hiding them, a sprouting bud later signals a destined marriage.

Since 1982, the Simmer Dim bike rally has drawn around 400 motorcyclists from across the globe, who ferry to the tiny islands to witness the ethereal skies and celebrate the briefest night of the year.

6 Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska’s second‑largest city, experiences a distinctive midsummer thanks to its position at 65° N. The region enjoys a “Midnight Sun” season stretching from April to August, culminating on the solstice (June 20/21) when the sun never sinks more than six degrees below the horizon, delivering near‑continuous daylight.

The term “civil twilight” describes the span of usable daylight—crucial for pilots needing to see ground objects. From May 17 to July 27, Fairbanks enjoys 70 days of official civil twilight. On the longest day, the sun sets at 12:47 a.m. and rises again at 2:59 a.m., creating a seamless daylight experience.

As the Earth tilts toward the sun, sunlight strikes at a steeper angle, lengthening daylight hours the farther north you travel. Alaska’s location, just 315 km south of the Arctic Circle, explains this phenomenon. Since 1906, the Alaska Goldpanners have staged a Midnight Sun baseball game on June 21, kicking off at 10:30 p.m. and wrapping up around 1:30 a.m.—all without ever turning on floodlights.

5 Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza, the iconic Mayan citadel on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, was erected around AD 400 and flourished by AD 600, housing thousands before its mysterious abandonment prior to Spanish contact in the 16th century.

The Maya, keen astronomers, designed the main pyramid with 365 steps—mirroring the days of the year—and used it as a colossal calendar that signaled solstices and equinoxes. Each June 21, the early‑morning sun streams through the north‑ and east‑facing sides, leaving the south and west shrouded in darkness, creating the illusion of the structure being split in half. To the Maya, this luminous display marked the advent of summer.

Folklore claims that clapping at the base of the steps summons an echo resembling the quetzal bird’s call, a sacred Mayan emblem.

4 The Power of Trees

Most midsummer festivities aim to reconnect participants with the earth when nature bursts into full bloom. Many trace back to ancient pagans who revered trees as living spirits endowed with magical abilities.

The Celtic peoples of Britain honored the oak as the “King of the Forest,” admiring its strength and longevity. The Celtic word for oak, “duir,” translates to “doorway,” reflecting the belief that oak roots form a direct conduit to the underworld and the impending dark of winter.

Druids also revered the oak for hosting mistletoe—a symbol of healing and fertility that seemingly only sprouts on trees struck by lightning. In truth, mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows in the gaps lightning creates. The beech, meanwhile, earned the title “Queen of the Mother of the Woods” and was thought to grant wishes. If a beech branch fell, it was seen as an invitation from fairy folk to write a wish on the branch and bury it, allowing the Fairy Queen to read it in the underworld.

3 Slinningsbalet

Alesund, a Norwegian municipality scattered across the western fjords, provides the perfect stage for the world’s tallest man‑made bonfire. The event, called Slinningsbalet, occurs on the Saturday nearest June 23, aligning with Norway’s traditional solstice bonfires that symbolize the sun’s “sinking” flames.

Locals construct a towering structure using wooden crates and pallets, sometimes soaring to 40 meters (131 feet). Up to 30 volunteers labor day and night to assemble it, after which crowds gather to watch volunteers climb to the apex, ignite a fuse hidden inside a barrel, and then descend safely as the blaze spreads.

Hundreds arrive by boat and on foot to witness the tower blaze for hours before collapsing into the ocean, heralding the start of Norway’s midsummer celebrations.

2 Midsommar

Sweden’s Midsommar is essentially a marathon party that kicks off on the weekend closest to June 21. Central to the festivities is a towering green maypole—“majstang”—a custom that originated in 17th‑century Germany.

Picnics feature pickled herring and “nypotatis” (new potatoes with dill), followed by hearty drinking songs and circles of dance around the maypole.

Superstition weaves through the celebration: folklore says that if a young woman silently gathers seven different blossoms on midsummer eve and tucks them beneath her pillow, she will dream of her future lover. An old Swedish verse captures the romance: “Midsummer night is not long, but it sets many cradles to rock.”

1 Stonehenge

Stonehenge, the world‑renowned stone circle in Wiltshire, England, was assembled around 2500 BC with massive sarsen stones arranged to align with the sun’s movements.

During the summer solstice, standing at the circle’s centre, the sun rises dramatically to the left of the upright Heel Stone. Its builders—Neolithic and Bronze‑Age farmers and herders—depended on the seasons for survival, making such astronomical alignments vital.

Today, the site draws Druids, pagans, Wiccans, and nature enthusiasts who treat it as a modern temple.

The atmosphere hasn’t always been serene. In June 1985, the “Peace Convoy” attempted a festival, confronting police roadblocks. When the convoy broke through, 1,200 officers intervened, leading to the “Battle of the Bean Field,” the largest civilian mass arrest in Britain since World War Two.

Many inventions and discoveries perceived to be modern phenomena have been with us for a very long time. One sometimes stands in awe at how innovative, creative, and brilliant those who came before us had been—with limited knowledge and fewer resources.

Already well into the twentieth century, the year 1922 saw great people entering and exiting our world and brought us wonderful discoveries and inventions of notable value. Many that still have an influence a century later. Luxury developments from 1922 have paved the way for modern variants throughout the decades, while books and movies enjoyed then still draw attention today—with some films being made and remade many, many times (because is there any originality left in Hollywood?).

When pausing a moment from the constant expectation of new things to come, we find that there are quite a few big 100th anniversaries to be celebrated in 2022.

Related: Top 10 Bizarre Celebrations Of Love Around The World

10 Deaths

Even when gone, some people have left legacies worth remembering, and their death dates are still being celebrated today. Legendary people who died in 1922 include Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, chocolate mogul George Cadbury, South African Boer-General Christiaan de Wet, and Pope Benedict XV.

Irish-born Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, died just short of his 48th birthday on January 5, during his fourth attempt to reach the South Pole. Also, Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish inventor and discoverer to whom the invention of the telephone and the metal detector was accredited, died on August 2—from diabetes-related complications.

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, born in 1858 as Eliezer Perlman, was a lexicographer known for his work toward the phenomenal revival of the then-not-spoken-anymore Hebrew language. He died in Jerusalem on April 23 at age 64 from tuberculosis. On November 18, Parisian novelist and poet Marcel Proust died of pneumonia at age 51. He was an influential French writer famous for writing excessively long sentences—with his longest one being 958 words—which is by far not the longest sentence in a publication!^[1]

9 Births

The world was collectively holding its breath to see if she was going to make it, but unfortunately, everyone’s favorite Golden Girl, Betty White, died on December 31, 2021, just 17 days shy of her 100th birthday. Incidentally, her co-star in the series, Bea Arthur, who died in 2009, was also born in 1922. Iconic American actor Christopher Lee, the most prolific actor of all time, cast in more than 244 films and TV movies, was born on May 27.

Among other famous over-achievers born this year a century ago was Professor Christiaan Barnard (November 8), the South African cardiac surgeon responsible for the world’s first heart transplant in December 1967. Yitzhak Rabin, army general and later the 5th Prime Minister of Israel, who was assassinated in 1995, was born on March 1. On April 13, Tanzanian anti-colonial activist and politician Julius Nyerere was born.^[2]

8 Inventions

Some of the most useful inventions that are still in use today originated in 1922. The “upward-acting” garage door by C.G. Johnson and the electric blender, for which Stephen J. Poplawski is accredited, are two such inventions. These remain in everyday use in many households worldwide.

Raymond DeWalt invented the radial arm saw, an efficient power tool used for crosscuts of longboards and a standard tool still used today. And on a sweet note, Christian Kent Nelson receives a patent for the Eskimo Pie.

With his brother pulling him with a boat at 20 mph, the favorite vacation pastime and now popular water sport of waterskiing was created by Ralph Samuelson in mid-1922. Having experimented with two wooden boards and a clothesline as a towrope, Samuelson initially struggled to get on his feet in the water. He spent the next 15 years trying to perfect the skill of waterskiing—which he later taught others to enjoy.^[3]

7 Discoveries of Different Kinds

1922 saw the discovery of Vitamin E by Herbert McLean Evans and Katharine Scott Bishop. Also in 1922, Vitamin D was discovered by Elmer McCollum and other researchers while doing research on children with rickets. The condition—also known as English Disease—is an illness causing weak bones in children, which is now known to be triggered by a lack of Vitamin D.

After a long history filled with disputes and controversies, insulin was intravenously injected on January 11, 1922. Although it was an initial failure, this experiment has paved the way for successful insulin treatment for diabetes ever since.

On November 4, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his team found the entrance to King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, near Luxor in Egypt.^[4]

6 World Events

Egypt gained its independency in 1922 from the British Empire, although the Brits kept control over the Suez Canal in partnership with France. In 1956, after a tug of war between Egypt and the two European countries, the USA convinced the latter to surrender its control of the Suez Canal.

As a result of the 1917 Revolution, the U.S.S.R (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), also known as the Soviet Union, was established on December 30, 1922. The U.S.S.R. consisted of the Russian and Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republics, together with the Ukrainian and the (then-called) Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republics. It officially lasted until the Soviet flag was lowered for the last time on Christmas Day 1991 when countries previously absorbed into the union became independent again. An interesting celebration against the background of current events in the area.

Also, on July 24, 1922, the then League of Nations approved the British Mandate of Palestine, which the Brits ruled from 1920 to 1948, whereafter the State of Israel was established.

The Japanese aircraft carrier, Hōshō (meaning: phoenix flying), became the first purpose-designed aircraft carrier to be commissioned. The Hōshō, different from later UK and U.S. aircraft carriers, was used during World War II. The design was used for the later Japanese fleet carriers—the Akagi, the Kaga, and the Ryūjō.^[5]

5 Movies Released

Various movies based on popular literature from the era were first released in 1922. A few films from that year that are still popular today include Robin Hood, Oliver Twist, Sherlock Holmes, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Rob Roy, Othello, With Stanley in Africa (the story of Dr. Stanley Livingstone), and David Copperfield.

Most of these films had seen remakes and remakes of remakes throughout the century. Yes, Hollywood knows how to redo. Take Robin Hood, for example. This 1922 film was just the beginning as we have seen numerous versions. Some of these include The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Robin and Marian (1976), Robin Hood (1991), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Robin Hood (2010), and Robin Hood (2018). Oh and we can’t forget everyone’s favoriteRobin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). And that doesn’t even account for the many foreign, cartoon, or adult versions made. Sheesh.^[6]

4 Books Published

Many books and educational publications by writers whose work still has an influence today appeared in 1922. Albert Einstein’s The Meaning of Relativity: Four Lectures Delivered at Princeton University, May 1921, was published by Princeton University Press. And on February 2, James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses (containing a 4,391-word sentence), was published in Paris in time for his 40th birthday. And that’s still not the longest sentence in literature.

1922 was a good year for F. Scott Fitzgerald, writer of The Great Gatsby—as both his novel The Beautiful and Damned was published on March 4, while his short story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was run in Collier’s Weekly magazine on May 27. Adaptations of Fitzgerald’s titles, including these two, found their way onto the stage and the silver screen through the last century.

Other well-known publications celebrating its centenary this year include The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot, England My England by D. H. Lawrence, and Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting.^[7]

3 Automotive Firsts

Launched in 1922, the Lancia Lambda introduced many world’s firsts—the first monocoque chassis, the first independent (front) suspension, the first V4 engine, the first production aluminum engine block, and the first four-wheel brakes.

This year also saw dramatic increases in automobile production. September established a new monthly production record, with a total of 206,000 motor vehicles turned out of the factories. The Willys-Overland Company made a record during July, August, and September when it produced 37,000 vehicles.

The convertible made its appearance in the early 1920s, with the first practical retractable hardtop prototype, created by American Ben P. Ellerbeck, being introduced in ‘22.^[8]

2 Fashionable Trends

Not surprisingly, 1922 wasn’t only known as the year in which John and Mary were the most popular baby names in the U.S.—and probably in most other countries where English is spoken—but also brought along new fashion trends.

The years after World War I (ending in 1918) saw a huge change in society, and fashion didn’t escape this transformation. The pre-war extravagance and war modesty (and the scarcity of everything) were slowly being replaced by more androgynous (male and female neutral) trends that still influence the fashion industry today. Under the influence of designer Coco Chanel and suddenly freer to express themselves, women started wearing less jewelry, shorter hair, and more unisex clothes—with dress suits and even trousers and ties finding their way into everyday wear.

1922 was also the year Coco Chanel’s iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume—still a favorite today—was launched.^[9]

1 Sporty Moments

Mickey “Toy Bulldog” Walker defeated Jack Britton for the welterweight boxing title in 1922. It is believed that Ernest Hemingway based his short story, “Fifty Grand,” on the fight, as the plot and even the names of the main characters are quite close to the real event and the boxers’ names.

Slalom skiing, which would become an Olympic sport in 1948, celebrated competing with official rules in place for a century this year. Olympic swimmer, Johnny Weissmuller, broke the one-minute barrier in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 58.6 seconds. He would eventually become famous (again) as the actor playing Tarzan in Tarzan, The Ape Man. The current record (Oct 2021) is held by Australia’s Kyle Chalmers with 44.84 seconds.

1922 was a big year for the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (popularly known as Wimbledon or the All England Club). It moved from its first home on Worple Road to where it is today on Church Street, London. Australian Gerald Patterson and Suzanne Lenglen from France won the first singles titles on this famous piece of lawn. It was also the first year that saw previous champions defending their titles from Round 1 on Day 1. Until then, champions only started competing after the main draw had been decided.^[10]