The Winter Solstice
REASON FOR THE SOLSTICE In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth’s equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 20 or...
Who is Father Christmas ?
Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Sinterklass … whatever you call him he has a rich set of folklore and traditions surrounding him. But are they even the same person ?
Origin of Some British Christmas Traditions
We have a lot of traditions surrounding a good British Christmas which enjoy but never really question. But where did some of them originate from ?
Krampus – The ‘Anti-Santa Claus’
Meet a new and disturbing character to add to the pantheon of Christmas mythical beings … Krampus!
Sinterklaas – A very Dutch tradition
Sinterklaas is quintessentially Dutch. You might be tempted to think he’s just a Dutch version of Santa Claus … but he’s definitely not. He doesn’t even live at the North Pole !
Thanksgiving – An American Tradition
Thanksgiving is a traditional feature of North American life. We explain the history and origins
The Origin of the Yard, Meter and Kilo
How many of us have a foot a foot long ?
What are the origins of some of the measurements we use today.
Coca Cola – Who invented it and how did it grow to be so Ubiquitous?
Coca Cola is a ubiquitous and iconic symbol of the U.S. but when & who came up with it?
What is the difference between Ale and Lager
There are 2 basic categories of beer : Lagers and Ales. But what is it that makes them so different ?
Who Invented Spectacles?
Spectacles … fashion item and indispensable ‘modern’ aid … but they’re far older than you think. Here we look at the origins of specs.
Flags of the World
I’ve always been interested in flags. Fascinated in how they embody identity, nationality, pride, a sense of belonging. People can love them, hate them and even die for them. I like to collect the flags of the numerous countries that I’ve visited. Here are a few and their origins and symbolisms… Australia The Australian flag has a dark royal blue base with a depiction of the British Union Jack in the upper left...
How To … Make a Fire Without Matches
How to start a fire without the use of matches.
… “things eveyone used to know how to do.”
Origin of Some Popular English Idioms
The origins of a selection of some popular English expressions and sayings.
How Is the Date of Easter Calculated?
Easter is a moveable feast, which means that it does not occur on the same date every year. But how is it calculated ?
