Remember the Maine Day

This day is annually on the same date, February 15. But Remember the Maine Day is not an entertainment holiday, but a memorable date in the history of the United States. “Maine,” in honor of the state of Maine, is the name of an American battleship that sank in the waters of Cuba. The tragedy claimed the lives of more than 250 people. The explosion on the ship, the cause of which is still not clear, occurred in 1898. As a result, riots broke out at sea, leading to the outbreak of war.

History

The ship “Maine” is interesting because it was one of the first battleships of the United States. The massive warship weighed 6,000 tons. In addition to the Maine, another similar ship called the Texas was built. They were considered one of the best U.S. warships. In the winter of 1898, just after the New Year and Christmas holidays, the battleship Maine went to Cuba in order to protect the interests of the United States there, since the Cuban War of Independence was going on at that time. In February, the ship entered the harbor of Havana, and soon there was an unexpected explosion.

Interesting facts

• The U.S. government blamed the Spaniards for the tragedy and soon declared war on Spain.
• In the course of bloody battles, Cuba gained independence.
• In memory of the historic event, Americans came up with a cocktail called “Remember Maine”. It was very popular in the first half of the twentieth century.
• Now this day is considered one of the most important days in American history.

How to celebrate

On this day, commemorative events dedicated to the sunken boat are held in the United States. Relatives of the military who died on the ship on that memorable day are interviewed, documentaries dedicated to the military tragedy are shown on TV and in the cinema. In cafes, bartenders can offer visitors a free cocktail called “Memory of Maine”.

On this day, historical conferences related to the great ship and its history are held. Historians continue to argue over what caused the explosion. There are no recreational activities as this day is a day of mourning and remembrance. In other countries, with the exception of the United States, few people remember the tragic history of the ship “Maine”.

When is Remember the Maine Day in 2025?

Remember the Maine Day is observed on February 15 each year.

Observations