Discover the amazing events of 28th June, including Catherine the Great becoming Tsarina of Russia, the first dog show, the invention of the saxophone, and the astonishing Laughter Epidemic of 1962 when people simply couldn’t stop laughing. A fun and educational read for children!
Dear Students,
Some days back, I told you the astonishing story of the dancing epidemic, when people just could not stop dancing. Today, get ready for something even more peculiar—the Laughter Epidemic—but first, let’s take a little time-travel tour through the amazing events that happened on 28th June in history!
🏰 The Lady Emperor of Russia
You’ve probably heard me mention the Tsars—the emperors of Russia. But did you know that lady emperors were called Tsarinas? On 28th June, 1762, a clever and strong woman named Catherine II decided she had had enough of being told what to do. She took control and declared herself the ruler of Russia! She became famous as Catherine the Great.
💵 The First Fake Dollars in Boston
Imagine someone trying to pay for sweets with fake money! That’s exactly what happened when Jeremiah Dexter of Walpole tried to use counterfeit dollars. He was caught on 28th June, 1762—the first time such an act was reported in Boston. The people who make fake money are called counterfeiters.
🍅 The Tomato Hero
Here’s a story that will make you giggle. Long ago, people believed tomatoes were poisonous! But on 28th June, 1820, a brave man named Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson stood on the steps of a courthouse in Salem, New Jersey, and gobbled up a whole basket of tomatoes. Everyone watched in horror, thinking he’d drop dead—but he didn’t! From that day, people realized tomatoes were safe—and delicious!
👑 A Young Queen’s Big Day
Have you visited the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata? It was built to honour Queen Victoria. On 28th June, 1838, when she was just 19 years old, she was crowned Queen of England in a ceremony that lasted five whole hours! Can you imagine sitting that long in one place?
🎷 The Birth of the Saxophone
Music lovers, pay attention! On 28th June, 1846, a brilliant man named Adolphe Sax patented a brand-new musical instrument—the saxophone. He invented eight different kinds of saxophones. Today, they make music that fills our hearts with joy.
🐶 The First Dog Show
Calling all dog lovers! The very first dog show took place on 28th June, 1859, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. People brought their proud pooches to be admired and judged.
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✈️ The Airship Adventure
On 28th June, 1910, the first passenger airship, the Zeppelin LZ7 Deutschland, took off into the sky. But oh dear—it ended up stuck in trees on a mountain! Thankfully, only one crew member was injured.
🌍 The War That Never Should Have Been
This part is serious. On 28th June, 1914, an event happened that led to World War 1—the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Soon, countries were fighting, destroying each other, and causing great sorrow. Wars are never the answer. As you grow up, remember—peace and understanding are always better than fighting.
😂 The Laughter Epidemic—When Everyone Couldn’t Stop Laughing!
And now, as promised—here’s the silliest disease in history.
It is believed laughter is good for health, but sometimes it turns out to be dangerous. Here is the incident.
In 1962, in a school in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), something very strange happened. A group of girls started giggling. Their laughter spread like wildfire—soon, hundreds of people in nearby villages were also laughing uncontrollably.
They laughed for hours, days, and even weeks! Schools had to shut down. Some people got so tired they couldn’t stand. This strange event is called the Laughter Epidemic or Laughter Plague.
Doctors and scientists studied it and believed it was caused by stress and anxiety, mixed with how easily laughter spreads. But imagine—not being able to stop laughing even when you wanted to!
So, dear students, history isn’t just about kings, queens, and wars—it’s full of tomato heroes, giggle fits, sky adventures, and musical inventions.
Which story did you enjoy the most?
Would you like to hear more about why the Archduke’s death led to World War 1?
Let me know in the comments or when we meet in class!
Stay curious, keep smiling—but hopefully not in an unstoppable laughter epidemic!
