TODAY - December 13

 

NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: DECEMBER 13

New edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 8 hours and 28 minutes shorter than June 21. Its length is 8 hours and 1 minute – from 08.37 to 16.38.

See more – also in English – about where you are on:  www.dagenslaengde.dk

TODAY’s NAME:

This day is called LUCIA’s  DAY.  She was from Syracus in Sicily.  And she was killed because she refused to marry a non-Christian.  She is recognized as a saint is all Christian religions.

The tradition to wear a wreath with candles on the head is believed to have its origin from when she carried food to the Christian refugees in the catacombs in Rome, With the candles on her head she had both hands free to carry the food.  She lived in the years 283-304.

The day’s name in Belgium is the same:  SAINTE LUCIE.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1996:  Kofi Annan from Ghana is elected secretary-general for the United Nations.

                                             

TODAY’s QUESTION:

The Foreign Legion  -  what is that? And what is the history behind it?

This is part of the French army. It consists of enlisted soldiers, especially non-French citizens. It was created in 1831 in Algeria. It played a major role in World War I.  Its main base today is on the island of Corsica. It is often used overseas such as in Africa.

You recognize soldiers in the Foreign Legion by their white Kepi  (their headgear) and by their slow rhythm, when they march.

When you enlist in the Foreign Legion you get a contract for a number of years, normally 5 years at a time. In the contract period you cannot leave the Legion. And often you get a new name and a new identity. Both practices have been criticized.

It is the only part of the French armed forces, which does not swear allegiance to France, but to the Foreign Legion itself. And if a member of the Foreign Legion is wounded in battle, he automatically gets French citizenship.

The Foreign Legions holds today about 8.000 men – coming from about 140 countries.

 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

IUL  -  CHRISTMAS  -  where do the words come from? What is the history behind them?

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

EUROPE AT WORK     www.europe-at-work.be

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

A cynic is a person, who considers everybody else to be as mean as he is himself.

            This was once said by the American crooner Frank Sinatra.

2.  Today’s quote:

A book takes its time like a child. All books written very quickly give me a certain prejudice against the author. A respectable woman does not give birth to her child before nine months either!

Who among today’s persons has said that?

 

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1797:  Heinrich Heine  ( died 1856 )

1830:  Mathilde Fibiger  ( died 1872 )

1915:  Curd Jürgens  ( died 1982 )

1920:  George P. Shultz

1929:  Christopher Plummer

1953:  Ben Bernanke

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1250:  Frederick II  ( 56 years )

1784:  Samuel Johnson  ( 75 years )

1944:  Wassily Kandinski  ( 78 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

www.simplesite.com/kimbrer   +  EUROPE-AT-WORK    www.europe-at-work.be

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