TODAY - February 24

 

NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: FEBRUARY 24

New 2021 edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 2 hours and 40 minutes longer than December 21. Its length is 10 hours and 37 minutes – from 07.37 to 18.15.

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

TODAY’s NAME:

This day’s name is MATTHIAS’ DAY.  It has the name from the apostle Matthias, who was selected instead of Judas.   It is unknown, if Matthias died a natural death, was beheaded, stoned or crusified.

In Belgium this day is called SAINT MODESTE.  Many saints from several centuries could be the origin of the name.  It is likely that it is a saint from Trier in Germany. He died around 480.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1819:  The 9 year old wunderkind Fréderic Chopin has his first public performance in Warsaw.

 

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts  - where does that come from? And what does it mean today?

The origin of this expression is an allusion to the story of the wooden horse of Troy, used by the Greeks to trick their way into the city. It is recorded in Virgil's Aeneid, Book 2, 19 BC:

"Do not trust the horse, Trojans. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts."

Of course, that English version is a translation. Another translation, by John Dryden, has "Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse."

The same thought was also recorded by Sophocles (496 - 406 BC), in Ajax:

Nought  from the Greeks towards me hath sped well.
So now I find that ancient proverb true,
Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none.

The Classics are no longer widely taught or read, so this phrase is now little used, although it was resurrected in a sideways reference during a 1990s copyright dispute. There was considerable discussion then, in Internet chat rooms etc., regarding the company Compuserve, which owned the copyright to the GIF image format, and their possible intentions to restrict its use. Some people feared that they might be taken to law by Compuserve, if they received and viewed GIF images without permission. The phrase "beware of geeks bearing gifts" was coined to sum that up.

Today the expression simply means that do not trust people just because they bring gifts or favours. They might have a hidden agenda. Watch out – until their real intentions are clear and confirmed.

 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Charity begins at home  - the origin of that expression? And the meaning?

 

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

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

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

Love is making most noise when it becomes silent.

            This was said by the Austrian poet Stefan Zweig.

2.  Today’s quote:

Why do we still have to do concerts? Stravinsky is not present either, when his music is played.

Who has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1500:   Charles Quint   ( died 1558 )

1786:   Wilhelm Grimm   ( died 1859 )  - see photo of his Bremer Musikanten

1885:   Chester Nimitz  ( died 1966 )

1932:   Michel Legrand  ( died 2019 )

1955:   Steve Jobs  ( died 2011 )

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

 1815:  Robert Fulton  ( 50 years )

  1975:  Nikolai Bulganin ( 80 years )

  1994:  Dinah Shore  ( 78 years )

  2006:  Dennis Weaver  ( 82 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

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



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