TODAY - July 12
NIELS’ SUMMER GREETINGS
ON: JULY 12
New edition
TODAY’s LENGTH:
This day is here
in Denmark 28 minutes shorter than June 21. Its length is 17 hours and 7
minutes – from 04.47 to 21.54.
See more – also in
English – about where you are on: www.dagenslaengde.dk
TODAY’s NAME:
This day is called HEINRICH’s
DAY. It has its name after Holy Heinrich,
who was German-Roman emperor in the years 1002-24. He created the diocese Bamberg and initiated the building
of many churches and monasteries.
In Belgium the day’s name is SAINT JEAN GUALBERT
– after an Italian abbot, who lived in the years 985-1073. He started the Vallumbrosa order.
TODAY’s EVENT:
1920: The Panama Canal is
opened by US president Woodrow Wilson.
TODAY’s QUESTION:
Sandwich - what's the history of that word? And what is it?
We all know what
a sandwich is: two pieces of bread put on top of one another and with some nice
stuff like meat, cheese or salad in between. But do you also know the origin of
the word? Where does it come from?
The Earl of
Sandwich ( a place in Kent in south-east England ) was in the 18th
century a gentleman called John
Montagu. He lived from 1718 to 1792. He was the 4th Earl of
Sandwich. He was a very active and very well respected politician, and he had
several ministerial posts at his CV. But he was also a very active card player.
He played with his friends as soon as he had time. And he was so dedicated to
his play that he did not want to interrupt playing just because of a meal. On
the other hand he did not want to make the cards dirty or filthy with remains
from the food. So he asked his waiter to prepare one or several breads (two
pieces of bread with stuff – for him: normally meat - in between). Then playing
and eating could go very well together.
The Sandwich had
been invented!
Some people with
less interest in and respect for playing cards have invented the “spin” that it
was during his long hours at work that he asked for “sandwiches” from his
staff, so that he could eat without making the king’s papers dirty with all
sorts of food J
QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:
Horse trading - what is the origin of this expression? And its
meaning?
47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:
EUROPE AT WORK www.europe-at-work.be
TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :
1.
Yesterday’s quote:
Social
conversation is the art to think about something important, while you
at the same time say
something unimportant.
This was once said by the British
actor Lawrence Olivier.
2.
Today’s quote:
A
poet without realism is dead. But the poet who is only a realist is also dead.
Who among today's persons has said that?
3. Famous
people born on this day:
1854: George Eastman ( died 1932 )
1895: Kirsten Flagstad ( died
1962 )
1904: Pablo Neruda ( died 1973 )
1937: Lionel Jospin
4. Famous
people died on this day:
Niels Jørgen Thøgersen
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