TODAY - June 23
NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS
ON: JUNE 23
New edition
TODAY’s LENGTH:
This day
is here in Denmark 0 minutes shorter than June 21 – the year’s longest day. Its
length is 17 hours and 35 minutes – from 04.30 to 22.04.
See more –
also in English – about where you are on:
www.dagenslaengde.dk
TODAY’s NAME:
This
day's name is PAULINUS DAY. He was born into a wealthy family in southern
France and was Governor of the Roman province of Campania in central Italy. He and his
Spanish wife decided to stop their secular life in 390 AC and went to Spain to
live there. Later he was appointed bishop in the town of Nola, which lies east of Naples. In addition
to building a great basilica in the city, he is the author of various religious
writings. But in year 409 AC he was suffering the martyr death because of
his faith. His body lies in the cathedral in Nola.
Today is also the UN international day for public services.
But the day is of course best known for the Midsummer Eve celebration in the evening. Where does it come from?
Like Christmas Midsummer Eve a relic of the prehistoric northern European pagan traditions, where the year's longest day, Summer Solstice, was celebrated. Christian missionaries and priests gradually took over the old customs, so they could be used to serve the spread of Christianity. Today this is called SPIN. Midsummer is the Danish name for saint John the Baptist, who was born on 24. June. (Midsummer Day). The Nordic tradition is to celebrate festivals the night before. The day / evening is celebrated today in many countries where the characteristic bright Nordic night, gives the conditions for an excellent evening experience.. It is celebrated in countries such as England, Ireland, Russia and northern France. However, most parties with bonfires take place in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
And what about the witches, who are believed to fly to Brocken in Germany on a broom tonight in the Summer Eve?
Witches were also, of course, a left-over from the "old days". People believed that some persons were witches and were in direct contact with dark powers, and therefore often the cause of natural disasters and other accidents. Therefore, around 10 million alleged witches (almost all women) over the centuries been burned at the bonfires around Europe. The first known Danish witch burning took place in 1540
Today is also the UN international day for public services.
But the day is of course best known for the Midsummer Eve celebration in the evening. Where does it come from?
Like Christmas Midsummer Eve a relic of the prehistoric northern European pagan traditions, where the year's longest day, Summer Solstice, was celebrated. Christian missionaries and priests gradually took over the old customs, so they could be used to serve the spread of Christianity. Today this is called SPIN. Midsummer is the Danish name for saint John the Baptist, who was born on 24. June. (Midsummer Day). The Nordic tradition is to celebrate festivals the night before. The day / evening is celebrated today in many countries where the characteristic bright Nordic night, gives the conditions for an excellent evening experience.. It is celebrated in countries such as England, Ireland, Russia and northern France. However, most parties with bonfires take place in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
And what about the witches, who are believed to fly to Brocken in Germany on a broom tonight in the Summer Eve?
Witches were also, of course, a left-over from the "old days". People believed that some persons were witches and were in direct contact with dark powers, and therefore often the cause of natural disasters and other accidents. Therefore, around 10 million alleged witches (almost all women) over the centuries been burned at the bonfires around Europe. The first known Danish witch burning took place in 1540
The test
of whether a woman really was a witch, could take many forms. One of them was
that the woman tied up with rope and thrown into the water. If she went to the
bottom and drowned, she was innocent. If she were floating on the water, she
was guilty and was burned
People also believed that witches went off on their brooms either Maundy Thursday, Valborg’s Eve (April 30), or Midsummer Eve ( June 23 ). They went to Brocken in Germany or Hekkenfeld ( Hekla) in Iceland. Here they met the devil and paid tribute to him by kissing his ass. They were entertained and enjoyed themselves with special “whore-devils”.
So do think about all this tonight, when you see the witch go off on her broom.. And also if you are yourself one of those who leave for Brocken.
An old Danish weather warning says that Midsummer evening rain is good for the priest and teacher! That is, it will be a good harvest.
People also believed that witches went off on their brooms either Maundy Thursday, Valborg’s Eve (April 30), or Midsummer Eve ( June 23 ). They went to Brocken in Germany or Hekkenfeld ( Hekla) in Iceland. Here they met the devil and paid tribute to him by kissing his ass. They were entertained and enjoyed themselves with special “whore-devils”.
So do think about all this tonight, when you see the witch go off on her broom.. And also if you are yourself one of those who leave for Brocken.
An old Danish weather warning says that Midsummer evening rain is good for the priest and teacher! That is, it will be a good harvest.
The day’s
name in Belgium is SAINTE MARIE D’OIGNIES – after an ascetic and
hardworking Belgian lady, who lived in the years 1177-1215.
TODAY’s EVENT:
1894: The International Olympic Committee
IOC is created at a meeting at the Sorbonne University in
Paris. The founder was Pierre de Coubertin.
TODAY’s QUESTION:
Waterloo 1815 – what is the history behind that?
It was near
the small town of Waterloo 20 km south of Brussels that Napoleon in 1815 saw
his final defeat. His 200.000 man Grande Armée et the allied armies under the
Duke of Wellington and was just about to win the battle, when the Prussian
general Blücher in the very last moment came to Wellington’s assistance. And
they won. The battle lasted for 3 days, and about 72.000 soldiers died or were
wounded. Napoleon asked for political asylum in England, but was instead taken
prisoner and sent to the small British island Saint Helena in the South
Atlantic. Here he died six years later. He wrote his memoires while he was
there.
In June
2015 – 200 years later – the battle was re-enacted with 6000 “soldiers” and
120.000 spectators over two days.
QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:
Werewolf – what is that?
47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:
EUROPE AT WORK www.europe-at-work.be
_______
TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :
1. Yesterday’s
quote:
Many of today’s film directors make films for people, who see them three
times instead of making films seen by millions of people
once.
This was once
said by the American film director Billy Wilder.
2. Today’s quote:
To be rich is
only really nice, when you are poor.
Who among
today’s persons has said that?
3. Famous people born on this
day:
1972: Zinedine Zidane
4. Famous people died on this
day:
Niels Jørgen Thøgersen
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