TODAY - February 28

 

NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: FEBRUARY 28

New 2021 edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 2 hours and 55 minutes longer than December 21. Its length is 10 hours and 53 minutes – from 07.29 to 18.22.

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

TODAY’s NAME:

Today’s name is HILDEGARD’s DAY after the German abbess Hildegard in Rupertsberg. She died in 1169.

In leap years this day is called Leander’s Day ( like the day yesterday – and February 29 is called Hildegard’s Day  ( what old mess L  )

In Belgium the day’s name is SAINTS ROMAIN – referring to two different saints, who were seen as opening the door to spring.  They were French brothers, lived as hermits in the Jura region – and founded also a monastery. They lived in the years 390-463.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1986:  The Swedish prime minister Olof Palme was shot and killed in a street in Stockholm.

 

TODAY’s QUESTION:

A Dutch treat – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean?

This expression comes originally from the rivalry between the English and the Dutch in the 17th century. The two nations and their people did not always talk nicely about each other. The English was of the opinion that the Dutch were always trying to avoid paying their share. They wanted to save their money.

This is perhaps not totally surprising.  The Calvinist religion – to which many Dutch belonged and still belong – encourages people to save as much money as possible. The more money you have when you die, the greater your chance is to get to heaven. So why take the risk and use the money during one’s lifetime ?!

Nowadays the expression a Dutch treat often means, that everyone pays for himself, when you go together to a restaurant or a bar.  You can also say: going Dutch. This has the same meaning.

In some cases Dutch people get offended, when they hear the expression. In other cases they use it themselves to make a bit of fun.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Danish (pastry) – What is that ? And what is 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:

It is strange. When a poet gets out of breath his sentences do not get shorter, but longer.

            This was said by the American author John Steinbeck.

2.  Today’s quote:

Politics is the will do things.

Who has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1533:  Michel de Montaigne  ( died 1592 )

1683:  René de Réaumur  ( died 1757 )

1833:  Alfred von Schlieffen  ( died 1913 )

1901:  Linus Pauling  ( died 1994 )

1916:  Svend Asmussen  ( died 2017 )

1942:  Dino Zoff

1944:  Sepp Maier

1946:  Robin Cook  ( died 2005 )

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1648:  Christian IV  ( 71 years )

1916:  Henry James  ( 73 years )

1986:  Olof Palme  ( 65 years)  - see photo below.

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

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



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