TODAY - June 24


NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: JUNE 24

New edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Denmark 1 minute shorter than June 21. Its length is 17 hours and 34 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 is called SAINT JOHN’s DAY.  It has its name after John the Baptist  ( Johannes Døberen – or Hans ).  John the Baptist was half a year older than Jesus. The Christians decided to celebrate both birthdays on two pre-Christian holidays – the two yearly days of solstice.
The day is also called Midsummer Day.
The day’s name in Belgium is the same:  NATIVITÉ DE SAINT JEAN BAPTISTE.

TODAY’s EVENT:
1948:  The allied air bridge to West Berlin starts – because of the Soviet blockade of the city.

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Werewolf – what is that?

A werewolf is according to old European legends a person, which is transferred into a wolf or a monster looking like a wolf. It can either happen by peoples’ own will, perhaps by using magics – or it can happen agains peoples’ will due to curse.  The transformation often happens at night during full moon.

The word was first used by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus  ( 485-426 BC). Later it is known all over Europe in different forms.

A werewolf was considered to have the same characteristics as a real wolf:  immensely strong; cruel; having a huge appetite, ingenuity and speed.

The Nazis used the word – first as a code word for one of Hitler’s secret command centres in 1942-43 and then towards the final days of the war about commandos to operate behind the lines of the enemy.   After the war the word werewolf was now and then also used by the secret organizations of former SS soldiers.

All in all, it is not a very cosy phenomenon – a werewolf L  _
___________________________________________

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Copenhagen ( a horse ) – what’s the history ?


47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:
EUROPE AT WORK     www.europe-at-work.be


TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

    To be rich is only really nice, when you are poor.

    This was said by the French dramatist Jean Anouilh.

2.  Today’s quote:

    Your country needs YOU !

    Whom of today’s persons is linked to that expression?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

    1850:  Horatio Kitchener ( died 1916 )
    1895:  Jack Dempsey  ( died 1983 )
    1929:  Bent Melchior
    1969:  Sissel Kyrkjebø
    1988:  Lionel Messi

4.  Famous people died on this day:
                1922:  Walther Rathenau  ( 55 years )

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen


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