Born on May 29
International Everest Day
Top of the world, two together.
Next: May 29, 2027
Where it comes from
On 29 May 1953 Edmund Hillary, a beekeeper from New Zealand, and the Sherpa climber Tenzing Norgay became the first people to stand on the summit of Everest, the highest mountain on Earth.
How it's celebrated
Nepal's embassies hold programmes where summiteers tell their stories and climbers are honoured. Some add a talk on climate change in the Himalayas, which Nepali officials call the 'Water Tower of Asia', or a clean-up walk.
Did you know
Everest's Nepali name, Sagarmatha, joins sagar, 'sky', and matha, 'head': the forehead of the sky.
Read the full story of International Everest Day
Star sign
Gemini · May 21 – June 20 · Air sign
Curious and chatty, always with two ideas on the go.