September 18: Old Faithful, Blackpool Lights & a Soccer Star

September 18 is the day history decided to keep a schedule, throw a party, and switch on a whole lot of lights. Grab a snack and let's take a stroll through the calendar's greatest hits.

The Geyser That Never Stands You Up

Back in 1870, Nathaniel P. Langford of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition watched a geyser in the Wyoming Territory erupt at perfectly regular intervals and decided to name it Old Faithful. Honestly, naming something "faithful" because it consistently blows off steam is either poetry or a subtle roast of everyone in your life. Either way, it's been reliably impressive ever since — the only performer in America that has never once been late for its own show.

Let There Be (Lots of) Light

Speaking of showing off, in 1879 the Blackpool Illuminations in the English seaside town of Blackpool were switched on for the first time. Blackpool basically invented the idea of covering an entire town in lights just because it looks fantastic, decades before your neighbor did it to his front lawn every December. It remains one of the great British achievements: turning "a bit of a chilly beach" into a dazzling destination through sheer commitment to wattage.

Happy Birthday, Captain America

September 18 has produced some genuinely famous faces. American soccer star Christian Pulisic was born in 1998, giving U.S. Soccer fans a reason to actually watch the sport with hope in their hearts. He shares the date with Norwegian golfing sensation Viktor Hovland (1997), NBA shot-blocker Serge Ibaka (1989), and Patrick Schwarzenegger (1993), who inherited an excellent surname and, presumably, a very intense home gym. Also celebrating: actor Aidan Gallagher (2003), of "Umbrella Academy" fame. That's a lineup that could win a five-a-side, a golf scramble, and an awards-show red carpet in the same afternoon.

Chile Says: It's Party Time

If you're looking for a proper reason to celebrate, look no further than Chile, where September 18 is National Day, affectionately known as Dieciocho. This is not a quiet, light-a-candle sort of holiday — it's empanadas, dancing the cueca, and enough barbecue to make your grill weep with joy. It's essentially a nationwide invitation to eat well and celebrate hard, which is the kind of tradition every country should really consider adopting.

So there you have it: geysers on time, towns aglow, athletes born, and Chile throwing the party of the year. September 18 truly delivers — faithfully.