Some dates carry a mix of celebration and historical significance. March 17 is widely recognised for cultural observances, but it has also witnessed key political events, scientific milestones and moments in global history. Here is a fact-checked look at five notable events linked to this day.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrated worldwide (17th century onward)

St. Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration observed on March 17 to commemorate the death of Saint Patrick, who is considered the patron saint of Ireland. This day has evolved to become a global celebration of Irish culture, parades, and events in many countries.

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Golda Meir becomes Prime Minister of Israel (1969)

On March 17, 1969, Golda Meir took an oath to become the Prime Minister of Israel, making her one of the first women to hold this prestigious office in a nation’s history, particularly at a time of rising tensions in the Middle East region.

Camp David Accords signed (1979)

On this day in 1979, Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel shook hands with the help of US President Jimmy Carter as the mediator and signed the Camp David Accords in the United States. This marked the beginning of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

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First human spacewalk anniversary context (1965 reference period)

Earlier, in March 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to enter space with a historic spacewalk. This marked a significant milestone in the exploration of space. The historic EVA was conducted on March 18, 1965.

Italy celebrates unification anniversary (1861)

March 17 is celebrated as the anniversary of the unification of Italy in 1861. On this day in the year 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed.