Today marks the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month on the lunar calendar, so the date varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar.
On this day in 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first person found guilty at the Salem witch trials is Salem Massachusetts.
On this day in 1946, the Italians voted in a referendum to turn Italy from a monarchy into a republic.
On this day in 2003, Europe launched its first voyage to another planet, Mars.