TODAY - MAY 11

 NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: MAY 11

New 2021 edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 7 hours and 21 minutes longer than December 21. Its length is 15 hours and 18 minutes – from 06.00 to 21.18.

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

TODAY’s NAME:

This day is called MAMERTUS’ DAY. It carries its name from a bishop in Vienne in Gallia ( nowadays Southern France ). He was murdered in the year 477 AC.

In Belgium the day is called SAINT GENGOUL.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1949: The Soviet blockade of West Berlin stops.

 

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Flying Dutchman  -  what is the history?

The origin of this expression is a legend from the 16th century. It tells about a Dutch merchant ship, which constantly sails over the oceans and never goes into any port. It is in particular seen in the seas around Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.  Seeing this ship gives other ships a warning that an accident is coming up.   The legend also tells that the ship is there as God’s punishment of the Dutch captain Vanderdecken for blasphemy.

The topic has often been treated in literature and other forms of art, including in Richard Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman.

Today we would rather talk about a so-called ghost ship. This is a ship which is sailing without any crew. Such ships exist. It is, though, not dangerous just to see them. It only becomes a real problem, if you run into them. And fortunately this happens very rarely.

 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Estaminet  -  what is this? And where does it come from?

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

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

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

Dance is a telegram to earth with a wish that gravity would be abolished.

This was said by the American actor and dancer Fred Astaire.  See photo.

2.  Today’s quote:

If we lack culture, we can damned buy one.

Who of today’s persons has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1720:  Baron von Münchhausen  ( died 1797 )

1783:  Peter Willemoes  ( died 1808 )

1888:  Irving Berlin  ( died 1989 )

1892:  Margaret Rutherford  ( died 1972 )

1904:  Salvador Dali  ( died 1989 )

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1778:  William Pitt the Older  ( 70 years )

1891:  A.E. Becquerel  ( 71 years )

1960:  John D. Rockefeller  ( 86 years )

1976:  Alvar Aalto  ( 78 years )

1988:  Kim Philby  (  76 years )

2006:  Floyd Patterson  ( 71 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

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



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