June 24

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1374day.year

A sudden outbreak of St. John's Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion.

A sudden outbreak of uncontrollable dancing struck Aachen in 1374, forcing people into hallucinations and convulsions until they collapsed from exhaustion.
In June 1374, an inexplicable phenomenon known as St. John's Dance gripped the inhabitants of Aachen, Germany. Participants experienced vivid hallucinations of dancing and were compelled to leap, twitch, and convulse without respite. Eyewitnesses reported entire crowds in trance-like states, dancing for hours and ignoring their surroundings. Ultimately, exhaustion led them to collapse, suffering severe fatigue and distress. Historians have theorized ergot poisoning or mass psychogenic illness as possible causes, but the exact trigger remains unknown. The incident spread fear across medieval Europe, highlighting the era's anxieties about supernatural forces. Aachen's episode remains the most dramatic recorded case of this mysterious mass hysteria.
1374 St. John's Dance Aachen hallucinations
1717day.year

The Premier Grand Lodge of England is founded in London, the first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world (now the United Grand Lodge of England).

The world's first Masonic Grand Lodge is established in London, marking the formal organization of Freemasonry.
In 1717, four London lodges united to form the Premier Grand Lodge of England, the earliest known Masonic Grand Lodge in history. This landmark event standardized rituals, governance, and membership criteria across disparate lodges. Under the patronage of notable figures, including aristocrats and thinkers of the Enlightenment, Freemasonry spread rapidly. The lodge's formation laid the groundwork for the later United Grand Lodge of England, established in 1813. Its ceremonies and charitable activities influenced the growth of fraternal societies throughout Europe and the colonies.
1717 Premier Grand Lodge of England Masonic Grand Lodge United Grand Lodge of England
1950day.year

Apartheid: In South Africa, the Group Areas Act is passed, formally segregating races.

South Africa's apartheid government enacts the Group Areas Act, legally enforcing racial segregation.
On June 24, 1950, the Parliament of South Africa passed the Group Areas Act, a cornerstone of the apartheid system. The law designated specific residential and business areas for different racial groups, separating communities by law. Non-white residents faced forced removals from areas classified for whites, leading to widespread displacement and suffering. The act institutionalized racial discrimination, controlling movement and economic opportunities for millions. It sparked local and international condemnation, fueling resistance movements within South Africa and abroad. Over decades, the law's impact entrenched social divisions and inequality. The Group Areas Act remained in force until its repeal in the early 1990s, when apartheid began to be dismantled.
1950 Apartheid Group Areas Act