Really, there’s only one way to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day properly. But if you can’t catch a ride in a basket under a giant balloon today, know that the idea dates back at least to 3rd-century China, where paper lanterns were used as military signals. Fast forward to 18th-century France, where two paper-making brothers, the Montgolfiers, launched unmanned hot air balloons. Then, to great fanfare, they tried sending up a sheep, duck, and chicken, and finally, Étienne Montgolfier took a ride. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.
Up, up, and away for Hot Air Balloon Day
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
The dry days of winter in Etosha
-
Ready, set, read
-
A legend and a legendary home
-
Ruins of a royal temple
-
Winter solstice
-
World Reef Day
-
The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote
-
Taking the scenic route to Sturgis
-
‘The mountains are calling’
-
It’s Giving Tuesday
-
Pascua Florida Day
-
It s superb owl Sunday
-
Bohemian Switzerland
-
Relationship status: It s complicated
-
Midsummer in Sweden
-
Portland celebrates its bounty
-
Once in a pink moon
-
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
-
Groundhog Day
-
National Rivers Month
-
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
-
Dog days of summer
-
World Theatre Day
-
Red fox in the Netherlands
-
On the hunt
-
Explorer of the sea
-
Happy Holi!
-
National Panda Day
-
The ruins of Italica, Andalusia, Spain
-
We re gonna need a bigger birdhouse