TODAY - December 18

 NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: DECEMBER 18

New edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 8 hours and 31 minutes shorter than June 21. Its length is 7 hours and 58 minutes – from 08.40 to 16.38.

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

TODAY’s NAME:

Today’s name is LOUISE’s DAY. It is called after the first queen of the Danish king Frederik V.  She was the daughter of the later British king Charles II. She lived in the years 1725-52

Earlier this day was called Christopher’s Day.

This day is also one of the 32 so-called Tycho Brahe Days.  These are special days, which the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe in the 17th century from his calculations appointed as specifically unfortunate days.  What old nonsense L

The day’s name in Belgium is SAINT WINEBAUD. He was a French monk and abbot in Saint Loup.  He died in 623.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1865:  Slavery was forbidden in the USA.

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Werewolf  -  what is that? And what history is linked to it?

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:

Gordian knot  -  what is that? And what is the legend behind it?

 

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

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

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

An ideologist can defend a case so strongly that everybody can understand that it is very weak.

            This was said by the Danish scientist, architect and author Piet Hein.

2.  Today’s quote:

Now things which belong together grow together!

Who has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1878:  Josef Stalin  ( died 1953 )

1897:  Fletcher Henderson  ( died 1952 )

1913:  Willy Brandt  ( died 1992 )

1946:  Steve Biko  ( died 1977 )

1946:  Steven Spielberg

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1739:  Antonio Stradivarius  ( 93 years )

1980:  Alexej Kosygin  ( 76 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

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

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