JULY AND ALL ITS 31 DAYS by Niels Jorgen Thogersen

NIELS JØRGEN THØGERSEN

J U LY And all its 31 days Niels Jørgen Thøgersen This month is named after Julius Caesar. He was born on 13 July in year 100 BC. After he in 46 BC had become the ruler of the Roman empire, he implemented a major reform of the calendar. The Roman year had so far been based on the Moon Year starting on what is known today as March 1. The month of July was then called Quintilis, which is Latin and means the 5th month. Now Caesar based the new calendar on the Solar Year starting on January 1. And he named the month of his own birth after himself, namely JULY. It is this so-called Julian calendar, which in 1582 was adjusted by Pope Gregory XIII. In this way we got the so-called Gregorian calendar we use today. July is incidentally the name of this month to virtually all Germanic and Roman languages: Juli (Danish, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch / Flemish, Spanish); July (English); Juillet (French): Lugnio (Italian); Julho ( Portuguese); Iulie (Romanian). In the calendar of the Vikings this month was called Ormemåned ( The Month of Worms ). The previous month was called Hay Month and the one afterwards Harvest Month. Why Month of Worms ? Probably because it is just in this month that all sorts of animals crawl all over the place: Spiders, beetles, worms, snails, vipers, grass snakes, tadpoles, chicks, etc. There are also some old Danish weather warnings attached to this month: Many white clouds in the sky provides a rigorous winter with lots of snow. And another warning: When July is warm and clear, Christmas usually becomes cold. The so-called Hundedage ( Days of Dogs ) start on 22 July and last until 22 August. They are normally the hottest part of the summer. And they have their name from the fact that the constallation Big Dog ( where you can find the dog star Sirius ) just in that period is closest to the sun. The myth says that it is the star which heats up the sun to higher temperatures than normal. The myth also says that it is during this period that meat becomes rotten , milk turns acid and the dogs become fierce and run away.

A special weather warning for the Days of Dogs says that the Days of Dogs will end as they start. See more about the names of all 12 months: http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/origin_months.html JULY 1 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called THEOBALDUS’ DAY: He was born in a noble family in Luxembourg. As a young man he went on pilgrim trips to several places, including Santiago de Compostella in Spain and to Rome. Later he settled down in Vincenza in Italy and became a priest there. After his death in Vincenza in the year 1066 AC the legend tells that many blind and leprous people came to his cave and were cured from their deseases. TODAY’s EVENT: 1890: England and Germany make a land exchange, so that the British get Zanzibar and the Germans get Heligoland. TODAY’s QUESTION: Danish (pastry): what is that? And what is the history?

The historical origin of this bread is Vienna in early 19th century. The bakers there made a special sort of bread called Kipfel. Some of them brought it to Copenhagen, where is became common from around 1840. Towards the turn of the century a creative Danish baker called L.C. Klitteng decided to make it much lighter by adding a lot of butter. The bread was called Wienerbrød (bread from Vienna). This is to this day a very popular pastry in Denmark – with a lot of calories! The same word is used in French: Viennoise (though it is not exactly the same bread). Baker Klitteng decided to make his bread known all over Europe and later all over the world. He named himself Advisor for Bakers and travelled the world. And he experienced a great success. His bread became popular everywhere. In The US it was – and still is – sold under the name DANISH (pastry). He became extra famous, when he in 1915 was asked to deliver Danish for the wedding of president Wilson. He also planned to “conquer” China and Japan in the 1930ies with his pastry. But he had to abandon his plans, as he suddenly became blind. And finally it is interesting that the same pastry in the city of its origin, Vienna, is neither called Wienerbrød nor Danish. Its name is: Kopenhagener.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Denmark in Western Australia - what is the history behind that? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: None of yesterday's personalities has left great quotes. 2. Today’s quote: War is the natural prolongation of politics. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1481: 1780: 1906: 1916: 1934: 1961:

King Christian II. ( died 1559 ) Carl von Clausewitz ( died 1831 ) Estée Lauder ( died 2004 ) Olivia de Havilland Sydney Pollack ( died 2008 ) Princess/Lady Diana ( died 1997 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 251: 1961: 1974: 2000: 2004:

Emperor Decius ( 44 years ) Louis-Ferdinand Céline ( 67 years ) Juan Peron ( 79 years ) Walther Matthau ( 80 years ) Marlon Brando ( 80 years ) JULY 2

TODAY’s NAME: This day’s name is MARY’s VISITING DAY. It is called like that because it was today that virgin Mary visited her relative and girl friend Elisabeth, who some days earlier ( on June 24 ) had given birth to her baby boy John. It was him, who later got the name John the Baptist. According to Christian sources he was at his time the most important roaming ascetic. In this capacity he baptised Jesus in the river Jordan. That’s where he got his name from. Pope Urban VI decided in 1389 that this day should be a holiday. It was like that also in Denmark until 1770, when the energetic reformer Struensee made an end to it. Concerning old Danish weather warnings for today the old peasant traditions say that the weather on this day will continue for the next 40 days and nights.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1981: The small Spanish town Huecar withdraws its declaration of war against Denmark. It was issue – probably by mistake – during the Napoleonic wars in 1809. TODAY’s QUESTION: Danish (pastry): what is that? And what is the history?

419: 1714: 1905: 1925: 1929:

Emperor Valentinian III ( died 455 ) Christoph Willibald Gluck ( died 1787 ) King Olav V ( died 1991 ) Patrice Lumumba ( died 1961 ) Imelda Marcos

4. Famous people died on this day: 1566: 1778: 1904: 1961: 1997:

Nostradamus ( 63 years ) Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( 66 years ) Anton Tjekhov ( 44 years ) Ernest Hemingway ( 62 years ) James Stewart ( 89 years ) JULY 3

TODAY’s NAME: Today is called CORNELIUS’ DAY. It is most probably named after pope Cornelius I, who was in charge of the church in the years 251-53 AC. At the end he was exiled by the Roman emperor to Civitavecchia – Rome’s old harbour city, where he died shortly afterwards. He was later made a saint. Another possibility is that the name refers to a Roman governor with the same name. He governed in the city of Caesarea in present day Israel (between Tel Aviv and Haifa) and is mentioned in chapter 10 in the Acts of the Apostles.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1976: The 20 year old Swede Björn Borg won Wimbledon in tennis for the first time. TODAY’s QUESTION: Denmark in Western Australia - what is the history behind that?

On the south coast of Western Australia you find a small town called Denmark. It is a famous local wine district. But it has nothing (directly) with Denmark in Europe to do. It has its name fron a medical doctor in the British navy, Alexander Denmark. He was here with his ship in the beginning of the 18th century. But who knows... Perhaps the good doctor has Viking blood  QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Referendum - what is it? Some reflections.

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1. Yesterday’s quote: Man's freedom does not mean that you can do what you want to do. On the trary it means that you are not forced to do what you do not want to do. This was said by the French political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. 2. Today’s quote: What is written is just the the sediment of experience. Who among today's personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1423: Louis 11. ( died 1483 ) 1883: Franz Kafka ( died 1923 ) 1962: Tom Cruise 4. Famous people died on this day: 1904: Theodor Herzl ( 44 years ) 1935: André Citroën ( 57 years ) 1971: Jim Morrison ( 28 years ) JULY 4 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called ULRICUS’ DAY. He was brought up in the monastery in St. Gallen in Switzerland. Later he is for 50 years bishop in Augsburg (923-73). Several legends tell about his care for poor and ill people, about his building of churches and monasteries, and about his personal contribution when the Hungarians attacked Augsburg. Ulricus was made a saint in 993. TODAY’s EVENT: 1776: In Philadelphia 13 British colonies in North America decide to become independent from England. At the same time they adopted the Declaration of Independence. TODAY’s QUESTION: Denmark in Western Australia - what is the history behind that?

On the south coast of Western Australia you find a small town called Denmark. It is a famous local wine district. But it has nothing (directly) with Denmark in Europe to do.

It has its name fron a medical doctor in the British navy, Alexander Denmark. He was here with his ship in the beginning of the 18th century. But who knows... Perhaps the good doctor has Viking blood  QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Referendum - what is it? Some reflections. TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Man's freedom does not mean that you can do what you want to do. On the contrary it means that you are not forced to do what you do not want to do. This was said by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. 2. Today’s quote: God forbid that we ever will experience twenty years without revolts. The tree of liberty and freedom has from time to time to be refreshed by the blood of patriots and of tyrants. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1807: 1872: 1926: 1927: 1937: 1948:

Guiseppe Garibaldi ( died 1882 ) Calvin Coolidge ( died 1933 ) Alfredo di Stefano ( died 2014 ) Gina Lollobrigida Queen Sonia Tommy Körberg

4. Famous people died on this day: 1826: John Adams ( 91 years ) 1826: Thomas Jefferson ( 83 years ) 1934: Marie Curie ( 67 years )

JULY 5 TODAY’s NAME:

Today’s name is ANSELMUS’ DAY. Anselm was archbishop of Canterbury and also author and scolastiker. He was Italian philosopher and belonged to the order of the Benedictines. TODAY’s EVENT: 1962: Algeria becomes independent from France. TODAY’s QUESTION: Referendum - what is it? Some reflections.

Brief analysis of problems related to referenda 1. Calling a referendum can be seen as a failure of the representative democracy. The elected politicians give up taking a decision and throw it to the voters 2. But when the referendum has decided ( especially when it’s a NO ) it is NOT the populations, which negotiate the follow-up. In other words the voters have no responsibility for what happens next. They have sort of a “free ride” 3. It is also a major problem that most questions which so far have been put to referendum (treaties, etc.) are too complicated for voters to decide. Not because they are stupid or ignorant – not at all. But because many very important parts of the questions never appear to the voters. They “drown” in the energetic fight between the NOs and the YES people. The debate most often becomes almost a one-issue debate for all parts. The elected politicians can be expected to have a more detailed information and view, before they take their decisions. This is what the voters can and should expect 4. Referenda hardly ever deal with what the real issue is. People vote as a sort of “mood” strongly influenced by their actual view on the government. If they dislike it for totally other reasons they will tend to vote against the proposal of the government – whatever is in it. Referenda are more monitoring a “Mood” that a rational decision on the question which has been put forward. 5. Furthermore, experience from many countries shows that a political confrontation in a referendum campaign will split public opinion for many, many years to come. The debate is so tense and emotional that people (whatever their views are) tend to stick to their often one-track attitude – whatever happens in the future. The nation will be split for a very long time. A serious and nuanced debate on the issues will be very hard to get.

6. Finally, for these reasons it is certainly worth discussing, if referenda are the highest and most democratic form of decision-making. They are often seen like that. My view is that they are not. A well functioning representative democracy is. Referenda CAN perhaps be used with reason on single and often very emotional issues like abortion, voting rights for women and the minimum age for voting. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: The peace of Roskilde 1658 - what is that about ? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 5. Yesterday’s quote: God forbid that we ever will experience twenty years without revolts. The tree of liberty and freedom has from time to time to be refreshed by the blood of patriots and of tyrants. This was said by the American politician Thomas Jefferson. 6. Today’s quote: Bankruptcy can have three reasons: women, betting or advice from experts. Who among today's personalities has said that? 7. Famous people born on this day: 1182: 1853: 1911: 1914:

Francis of Assisi ( died 1226 ) Cecil Rhodes ( died 1902 ) Georges Pompidou ( died 1974 ) Gerda Gilboe ( died 2009 )

8. Famous people died on this day: 1969: Walter Adolph Gropius ( 86 years ) 1975: Otto Skorzeny ( 67 years ) JULY 6 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called DION’s DAY. The name comes from an Italian martyr, who was killed in Rome in the year 301 AC. Perhaps it also comes from another Dion ( abbreviation of the name Diosysitis ), who founded the monastry Athos in northern Greece. He died in 1390 during a pilgrimage.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1415: Jan Hus, who wanted to reform the church, was killed by burning in Konstanz. TODAY’s QUESTION: The peace of Roskilde 1658 - what is that about ? The peace treaty between Denmark and Sweden was the biggest loss of territory for Denmark ever - and the biggest gain for Sweden. In 1657 the Danish king Frederik III had declared war on Sweden. He wanted to win the areas back, which Denmark had lost at the peace in Brømsebro in 1645 (Halland, Øsel (now part of Estonia), Gotland and the central part of Norway). The Swedish king Charles 10. Gustav was in Poland with his army. He reacted immediately by taking his 7.000 men army up through Jutland, walk over the ice (it was winter time) to Funen and from here further east also over the frozen sounds reaching Zealand. King Frederik panicked and asked for peace negotiations right away. The Swedes started with demands for a lot of land, incl. most Danish islands. But after some days they reduced their claims. A peace treaty was finally signed in the cathedral of Roskilde in February 1658. Denmark had to hand over big parts of the country ( Skaane, Halland and Blekinge - which today are the southern parts of Sweden). The treaty has the name: The Roskilde Peace Treaty. When the Danish chief negotiator was about to sign he said: I wish that my hand couldn't write! King Frederik was so sadden by the loss of big parts of his country that he asked all windows towards the east in his castle in Copenhagen to be walled up, so that he no longer could see his old lands. And a couple of years later he introduced an absolute monarchy, depriving the noble men of the power they so far possessed. The royal dictatorship lasted for 188 years - until democracy finally also reached Denmark in 1849. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Honey moon - where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Bankruptcy can have three reasons: women, betting or advice from experts. This was said by the French president Georges Pompidou. 2. Today’s quote: A kiss is nothing - and everything! Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day:

1912: 1927: 1935: 1936: 1946: 1946:

Eva Braun ( died 1945 ) Bill Haley ( died 1981 ) Dalai Lama Dave Allen ( died 2005 ) Sylvester Stallone George W. Bush

4. Famous people died on this day: 1415: 1535: 1854: 1893: 1962:

Jan Hus ( 46 years ) Thomas More ( 57 years ) Georg Simon Ohm ( 65 years ) Guy de Maupassant ( 43 years ) William Faulkner ( 64 years ) JULY 7

TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is WILLIBALD’s DAY. He was the first Englishman, who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. His name is often also spelled as Villibaldus. Later he became a monk. And at the end he was bishop in the city of Eichstätt in Bavaria in Germany. He died here in the year 787 AC. It’s also today that the traditional bull-run in Pamplona in Spain starts. TODAY’s EVENT: 1974: West Germany wins the world championship in football. TODAY’s QUESTION: Honey moon - where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? The old English expression hony moone from the 16th century was the name for the very first days in the marriage of newly weds. That was where they started their new life and probably also laid the ground for a larger family. In the early 19th century it became a habit for new couples (in the upper classes) in England that they went on a trip immediately after the wedding. They were often accompanied by family and friends on the trip. They either went to see family, who had not been able to come to the wedding. Or to other places. The French Riviera and Italy ( Rome, Verona and Venice) were the most popular places. In France the same habit started in the 1820’es (“English style voyages”). And in the socalled Belle Epoque ( 1871-1914) the honeymoon trips were in a way the start of mass tourism. In Denmark honeymoon is called hvedebrødsdage (white bread days). Why? Because normally people in the old days only had rye bread to eat. In the days after the wedding they had the more expensive wheat breat or white bread for a few days. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Köpenick event - what was that? And what did it symbolize? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: A kiss is nothing - and everything! This was said by the French author Guy de Maupassant. 2. Today’s quote: It is the fate of guides that they cannot keep up with progress. Who from today's lists has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1860: 1887: 1901: 1940: 1940: 1958:

Gustav Mahler ( died 1911 ) Marc Chagall ( died 1985 ) Vittorio De Sica ( died 1974 ) Ringo Starr Jerzy Buzek Michala Petri

4. Famous people died on this day: 1300: Edward I ( 68 years ) 1890: Henri Nestlé ( 76 years ) 1930: Arthur Conan Doyle ( 71 years ) JULY 8 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is KILLIAN’s DAY. It has its name from two different saints. The first one was a Scottish monk, called Killian. He became a bishop in Würzburg in Germany in 670 AC. Later he was killed in 689. The other saint is Danish and carried the name Kjeld. He became a priest in the town of Viborg in Jutland in 1147. And the legend tells that he once turned out a fire in the town by praying from the roof of the church. He became a saint in 1188. TODAY’s EVENT: 1497: The Portuguese discoverer Vasco da Gama starts his journey from Lisbon to find the route south of Africa. TODAY’s QUESTION:

Köpenick event - what was that? And what did it symbolize?

This expression comes from an event in 1906. A shoemaker in Berlin, Wilhelm Voigt (1849-1922) – former prisoner and a poor guy to look at – took in the German town of Köpenick outside Berlin the uniform of a military officer and behaved like a captain in the imperial guard. He commanded a group of soldiers to follow him to the City Hall, where they arrested the authorities and took the city’s money box with 4000 Mark. After that he disappeared. But he was caught quite quickly afterwards. After two years he was pardoned by emperor Wilhelm and was freed from prison. He became a popular hero in Germany. Now he wrote a book about the event. It was later also made into a film. The event was used by Voigt and many others to make the Prussian authorities look like fools with their obedience to military uniforms. When the expression a Köpenick event or affair is used now and then today it means that somebody makes fun of the authorities. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Volvo - where does that word come from? And what does it mean? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: It is the fate of guides that they cannot keep up with progress. This was said by the French-Belarussian painter Marc Chagall. 2. Today’s quote: Wealth spoils children, if they get too much of it. Who among today's persons said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1621: 1838: 1839: 1882: 1933:

Leonora Christina ( died 1698 ) Ferdinand von Zeppelin ( died 1917 ) John D. Rockefeller ( died 1937 ) Percy Grainger ( died 1961 ) Marty Feldman ( died 1982 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 1822: Percy Byssche Shelley ( 30 years ) 1967: Vivien Leigh ( 54 years ) 1994: Kim Il-sung ( 82 years )

JULY 9 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called SOSTRATA’s DAY. This is a Greek female name, but not a known saint. And nobody knows today why this day has this name. The day was earlier called Cyrille’s Day and also Joanna’s Day. Other sources say that the name of this day is AGILOF’s DAY. Named after a bishop in Cologne in the 8th century AC. TODAY’s EVENT: 2006: Italy wins the world championship in football in France.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Volvo - where does that word come from? And what does it mean?

When the Swedish founders of the car company Volvo many years ago had to decide a name for the new car they could have chosen to call it Viking, Thor or another Nordic name. They didn't. They decided to go for a Latin name. The Latin verb Volvere means driving - rolling. And when you want to say: I drive it is in Latin: Volvo. The owners wanted to make a car, which could drive everywhere, even in the sometimes harsh Scandinavian weather conditions. So they chose the brand name: VOLVO. Simple and clear. The fact that the company today is owned by the Chinese has not changed the name. It wouldn't be clever either. About Volvo driving everywhere: Many years ago the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel had a picture of a Volvo car on its front page. The text was: Schnellste Traktor der Welt (fastest tractor in the world). QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Audi - where does that name come from? And it means? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Wealth spoils children, if they get too much of it. This was said by the American multi-billionaire John D. Rockefeller.

2. Today’s quote: It is anatomically difficult and always somewhat ridiculous to clap yourself congratulating on your own shoulder. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1901: 1916: 1929: 1932: 1956:

Barbara Cartland ( died 2000 ) Edward Heath ( died 2005 ) King Hassan II ( died 1999 ) Donald Rumsfeld Tom Hanks

4. Famous people died on this day: 1440: Jan van Eyck ( 55 years ) JULY 10 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called CANUTE THE KING’s DAY. The reason is that it was on this very day in 1086 that the Danish king Knud den Hellige ( Holy Canute ) was killed in Sct. Alban’s church in the city of Odense. The murderers were leaders of a revolution against the king. He had without success tried to find refuge in the church. Canute is not known to have done anything, which was specifically religious or holy. But his brother king Erik Ejegod still succeeded in having him made a saint in the year 1101. An old Danish weather warning says that Drought on Canute the King’s Day will make the farmers sad. This means that if it is very dry today the harvest will be bad. TODAY’s EVENT: 1991: Boris Yeltsin is sworn in as president of Russia. TODAY’s QUESTION: Audi - where does that name come from? And it means? As everybody knows this is the name of a very well known and popular German car. The founder of the company in the beginning of the 20th century was August Horch. He had earlier worked for Karl Benz. Later he started his own company in his own name. He sold this company and started the company, which built the Audi car. But he could not use his own name Horch, because it belonged to his previous company. Then he started thinking. Horchen in German is a verb meaning to listen very carefully. And in

Latin this is: audire. Hocus pocus: the new car got the name AUDI. A name is carries to this day__________________________________________________________________________ QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Ladbergen: where is that? And what is a key historical event linked to this place? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: It is anatomically difficult and always somewhat ridiculous to clap yourself congratulating on your own shoulder. This was said by the British conservative prime minister Edward Heath. 2. Today’s quote: Of the women I have fancied in my life I in particular remember their eyes and their voice. Who among today's personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1509: 1606: 1871: 1903: 1943:

Jean Calvin ( died 1564 ) Corfitz Ulfeldt ( died 1664 ) Marcel Proust ( died 1922 ) Werner Best ( died 1989 ) Arthur Ashe ( died 1993 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 138: Emperor Hadrian ( 62 years ) 1086: Canute the Holy ( 43 years ) 2006: Shamil Basayev ( 41 years ) JULY 11 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is JOSVA’s DAY. He was the one who according to the old testament followed Moses and took the Jews to the Holy Land. Later he was Moses’ successor. This day is also the United Nations’ international Population Day.

TODAY’s EVENT:

1995: The Serbian massacre in Srebrenica took place under the leadership of Ratko Mladic. TODAY’s QUESTION: Ladbergen: where is that? And what is a key historical event linked to this place?

This is small German town in Nordrhein-Westfalen - just between the cities of Osnabrück and Münster. In the centre of town you find a very old and very nice hotel called Gasthaus zur Post. Apart from having used it many times on our way to and from Denmark, then this Gasthaus is historically very famous. It was here the Thirty Years' War ended in 1648. Or more precisely: the peace negotiations between the protestants (from Osnabrück) and the catholics (from Münster) met here for the first time. The fact that the Gasthaus is exactly 25 km from each of the two enemy cities was a good basis for the final compromise. Later the Peace Treaty was sign in the City Hall in Münster. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Sandwich - what's the history of that word? And what is it? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Of the women I have fancied in my life I in particular remember their eyes and their voice. This was once said by the French author Marcel Proust. 2. Today’s quote: Social conversation is the art to think about something important, while you at the same time say something unimportant. Who among this day's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1767: 1912: 1920: 1927: 1934: 1990:

John Quincy Adams ( died 1848 ) Sergiu Celibidache ( died 1996 ) Yul Brynner ( died 1985 ) Herbert Blomstedt Giorgio Armani Caroline Wozniacki

4. Famous people died on this day: 1937: George Gerschwin ( 39 years ) 1989: Lawrence Olivier ( 82 years ) JULY 12 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called HEINRICH’s DAY. It has its name after Holy Heinrich, who was German-Roman emperor in the years 1002-24. He created the diocese Bamberg and initiated the building of many churches and monasteries. TODAY’s EVENT: 1920: The Panama Canal is opened by US president Woodrow Wilson. TODAY’s QUESTION: Sandwich - what's the history of that word? And what is it?

We all know what a sandwich is: two pieces of bread put on top of one another and with some nice stuff like meat, cheese or salad in between. But do you also know the origin of the word? Where does it come from? The Earl of Sandwich ( a place in Kent in south-east England ) was in the 18th century a gentleman called John Montagu. He lived from 1718 to 1792. He was the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He was a very active and very well respected politician, and he had several ministerial posts at his CV. But he was also a very active card player. He played with his friends as soon as he had time. And he was so dedicated to his play that he did not want to interrupt playing just because of a meal. On the other hand he did not want to make the cards dirty or filthy with remains from the food. So he asked his waiter to prepare one or several breads (two pieces of bread with stuff – for him: normally meat - in between). Then playing and eating could go very well together. The Sandwich had been invented! Some people with less interest in and respect for playing cards have invented the “spin” that it was during his long hours at work that he asked for “sandwiches” from his staff, so that he could eat without making the king’s papers dirty with all sorts of food  QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Horse trading - what is the origin of this expression? And its meaning?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1. Yesterday’s quote: Social conversation is the art to think about something important, while you at the same time say something unimportant. This was once said by the British actor Lawrence Olivier. 2. Today’s quote: A poet without realism is dead. But the poet who is only a realist is also dead. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1854: 1895: 1904: 1937:

George Eastman ( died 1932 ) Kirsten Flagstad ( died 1962 ) Pablo Neruda ( died 1973 ) Lionel Jospin

4. Famous people died on this day: 1536: 1845: 1850: 1935:

Erasmus of Rotterdam ( 70 years ) Henrik Wergeland ( 37 years ) Robert Stevenson ( 78 years ) Alfred Dreyfus ( 76 years ) JULY 13

TODAY’s NAME: Today is called MARGRETHE’s DAY. It has its name from the Christian girl Margrethe from Anthiocia in the Middle East. A general fell in love with her. But as she only wanted to follow her belief, he sends her to prison. The legend tells that she met a dragon in the prison, which immediately disappeared, when she made the sign of the cross. She was beheaded in 275 AC. An old Danish weather warning say that if it rains today there will be a lot of rain the rest of the summer, and the harvest risks rottening. TODAY’s EVENT: 1837: Queen Victoria moves as the first monarch into Buckingham Palace in London. TODAY’s QUESTION: Horse trading - what is the origin of this expression? And its meaning?

The original word horse-trading came from the big horse markets in the Medieval ages. In other countries the same expression is referring to cows (Germany) or bullocks (Denmark). Why? Because there were bigger markets in those countries for cows and bullocks than for horses. In all these markets the trading often took the form of farmers (or more often professional animal traders) discussed – often in a very lively way – the price and at the end made the deal by slamming their right hands together. This was the deal. Nowadays the expression horse trading is in particular used about political negotiations. It refers to talks where each part often has to reduce its ideological or other demands in order to get a political deal. Among voters political horse trading is ofter seen as negative. But in reality it is a necessary and important part of politics in order to get results at the end. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: French visit - what's the origin of this expression? And what does it mean? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: A poet without realism is dead. But the poet who is only a realist is also dead. This is said by the Chilean author Pablo Naruda. 2. Today’s quote: I love treason. But I hate traitors. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 100 BC: Julius Caesar ( died 44 BC ) 1813: Theophilus Hansen ( died 1891 ) 1877: Erik Scavenius ( died 1962 ) 1913: Mærsk McKinney Møller ( died 2012 ) 1922: Anker Jørgensen ( død 2016 ) 1942: Harrison Ford 4. Famous people died on this day: 1793: Jean-Paul Marat ( 50 years ) 1995: Godtfred Kirk Christiansen ( 75 years ) - Founder of LEGO JULY 14

TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is BONAVENTURA’s DAY. He lived in 1221-74 and was a bishop in the Italian city of Albano. At the same time he was a cardinal. In his youth he was mortally ill. But the legend says that he recovered when his mother promised Saint Fransisco that her son would become a monk in his monastery. So he did until he was elected bishop. Bonaventura was one of the most significant theologians in the scolastic school in Christianity. He became a saint in 1482. This day is also the BASTILLE DAY. This was the day when the French revolution started in 1789. The special event was that the masses conquered the Bastille prison in Paris. Today is a holiday in France.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1941: British troops conquer Syria. TODAY’s QUESTION: French visit - what's the origin of this expression? And what does it mean?

This is an old expression in many countries such as France, England, Germany and the Netherlands. It meant that somebody came for a short visit, said something nonimportant and left without saying goodbye. And it was at the time not considered to be bad manners. In France and Germany the expression English Visit was now and then used with the same meaning. Today a French visit means that you make a very brief visit – and leave very quickly again. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Gentlemen's agreement - where does that expression come from? And it means? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: I love treason. But I hate traitors. This was once said by Julius Caesar. 2. Today’s quote: It's better to talk above peoples' heads than behind their backs.

Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1862: 1912: 1913: 1918:

Gustav Klimt ( died 1918 ) Woody Guthrie ( died 1967 ) Gerald Ford ( died 2006 ) Ingmar Bergman ( died 2007 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 1881: Billy the Kid ( 22 years ) 1887: Alfred Krupp ( 75 years ) 1965: Adlai Stevenson II ( 65 years ) JULY 15 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called the DAY OF THE APOSTLES. The reason is that it was at this day Jesus sent his apostles out in the world to tell about Christianity. TODAY’s EVENT: 1215: Magna Carta is signed. It is a number of letters, which limit the power of the British monarchs. ___________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUESTION: Gentlemen's agreement - where does that expression come from? And it means?

This expression comes from a number of dinner parties in 1886 in the American finance magnat J.P. Morgan’s house. Morgan lived in the years 1837-1913. During these dinners (only attended by men) a number of very important agreements were made. They were not written down in a contract and were only based on the spoken word and mutual confidence on what had been said. They were called Gentlemen’s Agreements. In Denmark (and probably also in other countries) you have another way of unwritten agreements. If you have made a deal (bought a horse or something else) the two people clash their right hands against each other. And that confirms the deal. __________________________________________________________________________ QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: What is Fata Morgana ? And where does it come from ? ____________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1. Yesterday’s quote: It's better to talk above peoples' heads than behind their backs. It was said by the American politician Adlai Stevenson II . 2. Today’s quote: All countries want peace, but different sorts of peace. Who among today's personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1606: 1932: 1946: 1949: 1961:

Rembrandt ( died 1669 ) Nina van Pallandt Sultan Hassanal Bolkiak of Brunei Carl Bildt Forest Whitaker

4. Famous people died on this day: 1758: Ambrosius Stub ( 53 years ) 1930: Leopold Auer ( 85 years ) 1997: Gianni Versace ( 50 years ) JULY 16 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called SUSANNE's DAY. It refers to two different girls with the same name. One of them was according to the Old Testament married to Joachim of Babylon. She was accused for infidelity by two judges, who had spied on her during her bath. After the bath she rejected their overtures. She was saved by the prophet Daniel, who intelligently disclosed the lie stories presented by the two judges. The second Susanne came from Rome. She was killed in 293 AC, because she refused to give gifts to Roman gods. TODAY’s EVENT: 1903: Denmark experiences its coldest temperature in the month of July: minus 0,9 degrees near Silkeborg. __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUESTION: What is Fata Morgana ? And where does it come from ?

This is an Italian expression. In its original form it was: feen morgana, and it referred to a preternatural creature, which was believed to create mirages. She was also the sister of King Arthur of the Round table. The meaning of the expression today is still mirage or optical illusions. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Albatros - what is that ? __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: All countries want peace, but different sorts of peace. This was once by the former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt. 2. Today’s quote: What is called the conscience of the nation has no room in the breast of the author. If it had his breast would be a huge apparatus. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1872: 1911: 1964: 1967:

Roald Amundsen ( died 1928 ) Ginger Rogers ( died 1995 ) Miguel Endurain Will Ferrell

4. 5.Famous people died on this day: 1985: Heinrich Böll ( 67 years ) 1989: Herbert von Karajan ( 81 years ) 1999: John F. Kennedy, Jr. ( 38 years ) JULY 17 TODAY’s NAME: Today's name is ALEXIUS' DAY. He was a young Roman, who decided to leave his rich parents' house, give all his belongings to the poor and to live the rest of his life as a beggar and preach Christianity. He died 34 years later in 430 AD. Alexius is the patron of the beggars, the pilgrims and the belt makers.

This day is also one of the 32 so-called Tycho Brahe's Days. They are days, which the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe in the 17th century based on his calculations considered to be particularly unfortunate. What old nonsense :-) TODAY’s EVENT: 1918: Zar Nikolai II and his family were murdered by the bolcheviks. TODAY’s QUESTION: Albatros - what is that ? This is one of the world's biggest sea birds. There are two different types: one in the northern Pacific and one in the southern Pacific. Their wing span is between 2,9 and 3.3 meters. And their weight can be up to 8,5 kg. The spend by far the largest part of their time at sea. They are fantastic flyers. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Amazones - who are they? And what is their history? __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: What is called the conscience of the nation has no room in the breast of the author. If it had his breast would be a huge apparatus. This once said by the German author Heinrich Böll . 2. Today’s quote: The English lady in waiting has dreams about a knight on a fiery horse coming to seduce her - but has normally at the end to live with the horse alone and will be happy about that. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1787: 1935: 1935: 1952:

Friedrich Krupp ( died 1826 ) Billie Holiday ( alias Eleonora Fagan ) ( died 1959 ) Donald Sutherland David Hasselhoff

4. Famous people died on this day: 1790: Adam Smith ( 67 years ) 1967: John Coltrane ( 39 years )

JULY 18 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called ARNOLFUS' DAY. He was originally a senior official in the court of the Frankish king Chlota II. But when his wife joined a monastery, he also gets a post in the church. He becomes bishop in Metz, and later he lives as a hermit. He dies in 641 AD. And the legend tells, that many wonders happened near his grave. TODAY’s EVENT: 1953: Elvis Presley makes his first record "My Happiness". It was a present to his mother. _____________________________________________ TODAY’s QUESTION: Amazones - who are they? And what is their history? They are female warriors in the Greek mythology, coming from Anatolia. They supported Troy in its wars with the Greeks. They are very brave, brutal and aggressive. Their left breast has been cut off. They meet men only once a year, and all male babies are killed. The Amazon river carries their name, because one of the first explorers there believed that amazones were shooting at him from the land, when he was sailing in his boat on the river. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Bonnie and Clyde - who were they? And what is the history? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: The English lady in waiting has dreams about a knight on a fiery horse coming to abduct her - but has normally at the end to live with the horse alone and will be happy about that. This was once said by Donald Sutherland. 2. Today’s quote: A good head and a warm heart is a formidable combination! Who among today's persons has said that?

3. Famous people born on this day: 1918: Nelson Mandela ( died 2013) 1921: John Glenn ( died 2016 ) 1950: Richard Branson 4. Famous people died on this day: 1817: Jane Austen ( 43 years ) 1889: Elvira Madigan ( alias Hedvig Jensen ) and Sixten Sparre (21 and 34 years) 1892: Thomas Cook ( 84 years ) JULY 19 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called JUSTA's DAY. She was a Spanish potter in Sevilla. When she refused to give her bowls as sacrifice to a non-Christian goddess, she was revealed as a Christian. When she according to the legend also together with her sister Rufina destroys an idol with the force of prayers she was taken to the Roman governor. Here she was treated with extremely hot sticks of iron until she died. After that her dead body was thrown into a well. It happened in 300 AD. TODAY’s EVENT: 1969: The Belgian Eddie Merckx wins Tour de France . TODAY’s QUESTION: Bonnie and Clyde - who were they? And what is the history? This was a young American gangster couple during the Great Depression in the beginning of the 1930ies. Clyde Barrow was a heavy smoker and very able shooter, who killed at least 9 policemen and many civilians. Bonnie Parker, his girl friend, took part in most of the gangster attacks. The couple robbed lots of banks and small shops. Gas stations in the country side were their particular favourites. The police was constantly about to catch them. And on May 23, 1933 they managed to corner them. During a heavy gun fight they were both killed by the police in Louisiana At a certain moment some people saw they as modern days' Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give it to the poor. But they only stole to the benefit of themselves.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Braille - what is that? What is the history? _____________________________________________

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: A good head and a warm heart is a formidable combination! This was said by the former South-African president Nelson Mandela. 2. Today’s quote: God created man - and I made them equal. Who among today’s persons has said that?

3. Famous people born on this day: 1814: 1834: 1846: 1946:

Samuel Colt ( died 1862 ) Edgar Degas ( died 1917 ) Edward Charles Pickering ( died 1919 ) Ilie Nastase

4. Famous people died on this day: 1892: 1965: 1992: 2009:

Thomas Cook ( 83 years ) Syngman Rhee ( 90 years ) Paolo Borsellino ( 52 years ) Frank McCourt ( 79 years ) JULY 20

TODAY’s NAME: This day's name is ELIAS' DAY. There are two persons behind that name. One is the Jewish prophet Elias - often seen as the most important of their prophets. According to the Old Testament he insists on praying for the true God despite of all the heathen cultures and temptations. When he feels that he is soon going to die he invites his waiter Elisa for a walk to Betel and Jericho. When they arrive at the Jordan River Elias takes off his coat, beats the water with it and the water splits in two. On the other side of the river a fire carriage with four fire horses arrives, and it takes Elias up to heaven. The other Elias is the bishop of Jerusalem, who was driven away from the city by the emperor in Byzantium in the year 500 AD. TODAY’s EVENTS: 1969: The crew on the spacecraft Apollo 11 makes the first manned landing on the moon.

1944: The assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler takes place under the leadership of a group of officers with Claus von Stauffenberg. as the leader. TODAY’s QUESTION: Braille - what is that? What is the history? This is a special reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired persons. It consists of raised dots which you can "read" with your finger tips. Normally people can ready 125 words per minute. The fast ones can make 200 words. It was invented in the beginning of the 19th century by one of Napoleon's soldiers, Charles Barbier. It should make it possible for soldiers to read messages during the night without using lights. The blind Frenchman, Louis Braille, 1809-53, developed the military codes, when he was 11 years old. The systems carries his name, and it is still today the most used system used by blind people all over the world. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Voting rights for 16 year olds - in which countries? And 17 year olds? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: God created man - and I made them equal. This was said by the American industrialist and gun-maker Samuel Colt . 2. Today’s quote: Let us give Europe a soal. Who among today's personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1919: 1925: 1938: 1964:

Edmund Hillary ( died 2008 ) Jacques Delors Nathalie Wood ( died 1981 ) Chris Cornell

4. Famous people died on this day: 1922: Andrei Markov ( 66 years ) 1951: King Abdullah of Jordan ( 69 years ) 1973: Bruce Lee ( 32 years )

JULY 21 TODAY’s NAME: This day's name is EVERUS' DAY. He was a saint. But we do not know more about him. The Catholics today celebrate Laurentius of Brindisi - one of the pious church fathers. __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s EVENT: 1831: Belgium becomes an independent country ( from the Netherlands ) and makes a democratic constitution. Denmark more or less copies that constitution 18 years later. Today is Belgium's national day. _________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUESTION: Voting rights for 16 year olds - in which countries? And 17 year olds? A number of countries has given 16 year old people voting rights: Austria, Hungary (though only if they are married), Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Cuba. In some German Länder - Brandenburg, Hamburg and Bremen - the 16 year olds can vote in regional elections. And in Scotland the 16 year old are about to get voting right. In some countries the age for voting right is 17 years: Indonesia, Ethiopia, East Timor and North Korea. What is normally the reason for giving voting rights to 16 year old people? Because they today know more about society than young people in the old days. And because they for logical reasons will have to live the longest time with the society created by politicians. Historically the age for voting rights has been gradually lowered step by step. At the other end of the scale of age only one country has a maximum age for voting: In the Vatican cardinals may only vote until they are 80 years of age. Perhaps a good idea for other countries as well :-) QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Bredevoort - what is that? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Let us give Europe a soal. This was said by the former president of the European Commission Jacques Delors. 2. Today’s quote:

America is a country, where every man has his freedom to do, what his wife wants him to do. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1893: 1899: 1920: 1948:

Hans Fallada ( died 1947 ) Ernest Hemingway ( died 1961 ) Isaac Stern ( died 2001 ) Cat Stevens

4. Famous people died on this day: 1944: Claus von Stauffenberg ( 37 years ) 1998: Alan B. Shepard ( 75 years ) JULY 22 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called MARY MAGDALENA's DAY. She is the sister of Lazarus and Martha. She is often in the Western tradition seen as a sinner ( read: prostitute ), who anoints Jesus, while she intensively listens to his speech. She is present on Good Friday with Jesus at the cross, and according to Marcus she is the first, who Easter morning sees the empty grave. TODAY’s EVENT: 1952: During a visit to Odense in Denmark the American actor Danny Kaye makes many people angry, because he lies down in the bed of Hans Christian Andersen. TODAY’s QUESTION: Bredevoort - what is that?

It is a small Dutch village with about 1.700 inhabitants. You find it in the very east of Holland, just a few km from the German border. It is positioned between two big cities: Arnhem (NL) to the west and Münster (D) to the east. The name of the village means the Broad Fortress. It was a military centre of great importance during the Spanish-Dutch wars 2-300 years ago. It was conquered by one or the other part during the wars. More than a hundred years it was all over, when a lightening hit the ammunition depot, and more than 2/3 of the village was immediately destroyed. During the last 40-50 years it was all decline for Bredevoort. All young people left. And no activities were left there. This was the background fot the initiative taken by a

number of dynamic people. They decided in 1993 to start a BOOK TOWN. It developed step by step. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: CSR - what is that ? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: America is a country, where every man has his freedom to do, what his wife wants him to do. This was said by the American author Ernest Hemingway . 2.Today’s quote: Kisses are the small change of love ! Who among today’s persons has said that? 2. Famous people born on this day: 1822: 1882: 1887: 1946: 1978:

Gregor Johann Mendel ( died 1884 ) Edward Hopper ( died 1967 ) Gustav Ludwig Hertz ( died 1975 ) Mireille Mathieu Dennis Rommedahl

3. Famous people died on this day: 1832: Napoleon II ( 21 years ) 1853: C.W. Eckersberg ( 70 years ) 2003: Uday Hussein ( 39 år ) JULY 23 TODAY’s NAME: Today's name is APOLLINARIUS' DAY. He was a disciple of the apostle Peter, who sent him to Ravenna. Here he became a bishop. During the later persecutions of the Christians he was caught and whipped to death. According to the legend many wonders happened at his grave. Today is the first of the so-called "Dog days", which run until August 23. Their name comes from the "dog star" Sirius, which around now will appear on the sky before the sun.

An old Danish weather warning says that the Dog Days will end as they begin! _____________________________________________ TODAY’s EVENT: 1952: The European Coal and Steel Community starts with six countries as members: France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. It is the beginning of the later European Union. TODAY’s QUESTION: Bredevoort - what is that?

Bredevoort is a small Dutch village with about 1.700 inhabitants. You find it in the very east of Holland, just a few km from the German border. It is positioned between two big cities: Arnhem (NL) to the west and Münster (D) to the east. The name of the village means the Broad Fortress. It was a military centre of great importance during the Spanish-Dutch wars 2-300 years ago. It was conquered by one or the other part during the wars. More than a hundred years it was all over, when a lightening hit the ammunition depot, and more than 2/3 of the village was immediately destroyed. During the last 40-50 years it was all decline for Bredevoort. All young people left. And no activities were left there. This was the background fot the initiative taken by a number of dynamic people. They decided in 1993 to start a BOOK TOWN. It developed step by step. Today the village is full of activity with about 30 permanent booksellers and 30-40.000 guests a year. And it is now also the poetry centre for the whole of the Netherlands. You also find a hotel and a couple of restaurants and cafes. Bredevoort is really worth a visit. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: CSR - what is that? __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Kisses are the small change of love ! This was once said by the French singer Mireille Mathieu . 2. Today’s quote: An unpleasant truth is better than a pleasant illusion !

Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1851: 1888: 1892: 1957: 1973:

P.S. Krøyer ( died 1909 ) Raymond Chandler ( died 1959 ) Haile Selassie ( died 1975 ) Theo van Gogh ( died 2004 ) Monica Lewinsky

4. Famous people died on this day: 1885: 1942: 1966: 1999: 2011:

Ulysses S. Grant ( 63 years ) Valdemar Poulsen ( 73 years ) Montgomery Clift ( 45 years ) Hassan II ( 70 years ) Amy Winehouse ( 28 years ) JULY 24

TODAY’s NAME: This day is called CHRISTINA's DAY. It has its name from the martyr Christina. Her non-Christian father arranged that she was killed, because she would not accept his idols. When she was put on the bonfire, about a thousand non-Christian spectators were caught by fire too. TODAY’s EVENT: 1967: French president Charles de Gaulle makes in Montreal in Canada his famous speech with the slogan "Vive le Quebec libre" ( Long live the free Quebec ). He is heavily critizised for the speech by the Canadian prime minister Lester Pearson and makes short his visit to go home to Paris.

TODAY’s QUESTION: CSR - what is that? This is an abbreviation for Corporate Social Responsability. It is also called Corporate Citizenship. A company which joins CSR and gets a so-called CSR certification is actively doing something good for social, labour practices, cultural, environmental or philantropical matters. And is not paid for it. About 84 % of the consumers appreciate these efforts. And at international level CSR is promoted by the UN agency UNIDO. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Brexit - what is that ?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: An unpleasant truth is better than a pleasant illusion ! This was said by the American actor Montgomery Clift . 2. Today’s quote: Dad was a big child I had, when I was young. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1783: 1802: 1857: 1939: 1983:

Simon Bolivar ( died 1830 ) Alexandre Dumas ( died 1870 ) Henrik Pontoppidan ( died 1943 ) Christian Kampmann ( died 1988 ) Daniele De Rossi

4. Famous people died on this day: 1862: Martin van Buren ( 90 years ) 1980: Peter Sellers ( 55 years ) JULY 25 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called JAKOBUS' DAY. The name goes back to the apostle Jakob the Elder, of which the father was Zenedeus from Genezareth. He was the first martyy apostle during the reign of king Herodes. TODAY’s EVENT: 306: Constantine the Great is nominated as Roman emperor. TODAY’s QUESTION: Brexit - what is that ? The word Brexit has been made from the two English words Britain and Exit. It is the term for the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union after 44 years' membership. The decision was made by an advisory referendum on June 23, 2016. Almost 52 % of the voters wanted to leave, which a bit more than 48 % wanted the UK to stay. The turnout at the referendum was 72 %.

An interesting aspect of the referendum was that a clear majority of voters in places like London, Scotland and Northern Ireland wanted to stay. Another interesting aspect was that the campaign before the referendum was dominated by lies and false promises, which soon after the referendum became clear could not be fulfilled. And a third interesting angle was that a clear majority of young people wanted to stay in the EU. But only a small part of them actually voted. The process after the referendum is that the UK and the EU have to finalise a detailed agreement on the British exit and what it means in all sorts of areas before March 2019. More and more people doubt that this will be possible. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Breathing - what can you say about that? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Dad was a big child I had, when I was young. This is said by the French poet Alexandre Dumas . 2. Today’s quote: History does not repeat itself. Historians do. Who among today’s personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1848: Arthur Balfour ( died 1930 ) 1894: Gavrilo Princip ( died 1918 ) 1967: Matt Le Blanc 4. Famous people died on this day: 1834: Samuel Taylor Coleridge ( 61 years ) 1980: Vladimir Vysotski ( 42 years ) 2003: John Schlesinger ( 77 years ) JULY 26 TODAY’s NAME:

This day is called ANNA's DAY. She was Virgin Mary's mother. According to the legend she became pregnant by kissing her husband Joachim. When Joachim died she remarried and had one more daughter called Maria. One of the daughters later gave birth to Jacobus the Elder ( see yesterday ) and to John the Baptist. The other one gave birth to Jacobus the Younger. TODAY’s EVENT: 1947: The CIA is created. TODAY’s QUESTION: Breathing - what can you say about that?

Do you know that each of us is breathing about 20.000 times a day. Day and night. Awake and asleep. Quite impressing, isn't it! More impressing is it, if you make a calculation for a whole year: 7,3 mio. times. And if you are around 70 years old, you have been breathing 511 mio. times! It is evident that it needs good lungs. So look well after them! QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Perpetuum mobile - what is that? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: History does not repeat itself. Historians do. This was once said by the British politician Arthur Balfour . 2. Today’s quote: Experience is not what a man experiences. It is what he uses the experienced for. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1856: 1869: 1894: 1928: 1943:

George Bernard Shaw ( died 1950 ) Martin Andersen Nexø ( died 1954 ) Aldous Huxley ( died 1963 ) Stanley Kubrick ( died 1999 ) Mick Jagger

4. Famous people died on this day: 1574: 1913: 1952: 1983: 1992:

Birgitte Gøye ( 63 years ) Peter Sabroe ( 46 years ) Eva Peron ( 31 years ) Charlie Rivel ( 87 years ) Elga Olga Svendsen ( 86 years ) JULY 27

TODAY’s NAME: Today's name is MARTHA's DAY. It has its name after Maria Magdalena's sister Martha, who started a monastery for nuns. An old Danish weather warning tells, that if it rains on Martha's day, it will be raining for seven weeks. TODAY’s EVENT: 1953: North and South Korea agree on an armistice. TODAY’s QUESTION: Perpetuum mobile - what is that?

A perpetuum mobile ( or perpetual motion machine ) is a machine, which is able to work forever without getting energy from anywhere. Thousands of hopeful inventors have tried during many centuries. One of them was the famous Leonardo da Vinci ( 14521519 ). But nobody succeeded. It is obvious that the guy, who perhaps some day finds the solution, will become a very, very rich man - or woman! QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: All thumbs - what does that mean? And where does the expression come from? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Experience is not what a man experiences. It is what he uses the experienced for. This was said by the Irish poet George Bernard Shaw . 2. Today’s quote: Save money - perhaps it is worth something some day! Who among today’s persons has said that?

2. Famous people born on this day: 1824: Alexandre Dumas the Younger ( died 1895 ) 1835: Geosuè Carducci ( died 1907 ) 1910: Julien Gracq ( died 2007 ) 3. Famous people died on this day: 1946: 1980: 1984: 2003:

Gertrude Stein ( 72 years ) Muhammad Reza Pahlavi ( 61 years ) James Mason ( 75 years ) Bob Hope ( 100 years ) JULY 28

TODAY’s NAME: This day is called AURELIUS' DAY. He was Spanish and came from Cordoba. His father was a Muslim and his mother a Christian, so he was of mixed Spanish-Moorish blood. That is what the local Moorish emir ordered son and mother decapitated. It happened in the year 852 AD. TODAY’s EVENT: 1937: Japanese troops conquer Beijing. TODAY’s QUESTION: All thumbs - what does that mean? And where does the expression come from?

This expression tells you that the person concerned is probably not able to do anything of a practical nature. A thumb is always seen to be somewhat in the way, when you have arrange and fix things. So if you are said to have ten of them the situation is not brilliant :-( QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Hamburg - what are the main things you can say about this old German city? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Save money - perhaps it is worth something some day! This was once said by the American entertainer Bob Hope . 2. Today’s quote:

Insults are the arguments used by people, who are wrong. Whom among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1491: King Henrik VIII ( died 1547 ) 1577: Peter Paul Rubens ( died 1640 ) 1712: Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( died 1778 ) 1912: Sergiu Celibidache ( died 1996 ) 1926: Mel Brooks 4. Famous people died on this day: 1994: Ulrik Neumann ( 76 år )

JULY 29 TODAY’s NAME: Today's name is OLAV's DAY. It carries its name after the first Christian Norwegian king, Olav Haraldsson. He was at the age of 35 years killed by axes in the battle with Kalv Arnesøn and his army. It happened in Stiklestad in Norway in 1030 AD. As many wonders according to the legend later happened at his grave he was made a saint with the name Holy Olav. The remains of Olav are now to be seen in Nidaros cathedral in Trondheim in Norway. Today is also the national holiday of the Faroe Islands Two old Danish weather warnings say: 1) Rain on Olav's Day is no good sign. It means a bad harvest. 2) Full moon on the day means that the winter will be very cold.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1836: The Arc de Triomphe in Paris is inaugurated.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Hamburg - what are the main things you can say about this old German city?

The city is today the second biggest city in Germany with 1,7 mio inhabitants. Part of it, Altona, was about 400 years ago created by the days to try to compete with Hamburg. It actually did not work that way. Hamburg continued to be the main city. And since 1937 Altona has also formally been part of the City of Hamburg. Hamburg is a very important port. Even very large ships can access its harbour on the river of the Elbe. It makes it one of the biggest harbours in Europe. And today even the biggest cruise lines can reach the centre of Hamburg. The city is also known to be the home of many well known personalities. Former federal chancellor Helmut Schmidt lived his long life here, and his house in Langenhorn in the north of the city is now a public museum. And chancellor Angela Merkel was born here, though she later moved to the former GDR with her parents, because her father wanted to be a priest there. Hamburg is also a media metropole. The TV network ARD has its headquarters in the city. So has the very well respected weekly newspaper Die Zeit. This is also the case for the other weekly magazine Der Spiegel. And the city's "local" newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt is also a major player. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Weimar - what are the main characteristics of this city? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Insults are the arguments used by people, who are wrong. This was said by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. 2. Today’s quote: In politics a common hatred is often the basis of a good friendship. Who among today’s personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1796: 1805: 1871: 1883: 1905: 1925:

Christian Winther ( died 1876 ) Alexis de Tocqueville ( died 1859 ) Grigorij Rasputin ( died 1916 ) Benito Mussolini ( died 1945 ) Dag Hammarskiöld ( died 1961 ) Mikis Theodorakis

4. Famous people died on this day: 1030: Holy Olav ( 35 years )

1974: Erich Kästner ( 73 years ) 1983: David Niven ( 74 years ) 1990: Bruno Kreisky ( 79 years ) JULY 30 TODAY’s NAME: This day's name is ABDON's DAY. Two different persons have give it this name: One is according to the Old Testament one of Israel's last judges. The name means obsequious in Hebrew. The other Abdon was together with his friend Sennen two Christians, who buried killed martyrs. They were prosecuted for it by the Roman authorities and thrown in front of wild animals. As these animals would not touch them whet were instead beheaded. It happens during the reign of emperor Diocletian in 304 AD.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1966: England wins 4-2 over West Germany on Wembley in London and becomes world champion in football. TODAY’s QUESTION: Weimar - what are the main characteristics of this city? This small city in Thüringen in the centre of Germany was for many years one of the several independent German principalities governed by a prince. Unlike many other principalities its princes and princesses were way back in the period from 1740 and more than a hundred years ahead convinced that it was much more important to concentrate on promoting art and science than military force and war. They were active in inviting artists and scientists to come to Weimar to stay and work. Two of the most well known people who did so were Goethe and Schiller. None of them came originally from Weimar. But got strong support and had an enormous influence on the development of society. This fact played a very important role after World War I. When the new German socialdemocratic leader Friedrich Ebert should decide where a new constitution for the new republic should be prepared he chose Weimar. He did not want to do it in the Prussian Berlin, where revolutions and street fights continued. Therefore, the new democratic constitution got the name the Weimar Constitution. And the new republic was normally called the Weimar Republic. In addition to that it is strongly recommended to visit this very interesting city. QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Heinz and 57 - what is the story?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: In politics a common hatred is often the basis of a good friendship. This has been said by the French author and political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville . 2. Today’s quote: When politicians towards other present demands, which they never would dare to put forward in their own name, they always do it Europe's name. Who among today's persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1863: 1941: 1947: 1953: 1968:

Henry Ford ( died 1947 ) Paul Anka Arnold Schwarzenegger Anne Linnet Sofie Gråbøl

4. Famous people died on this day: 1718: William Penn ( 74 years ) 1811: Miguel Hidalgo ( 58 years ) 1898: Otto von Bismarck ( 83 years ) JULY 31 TODAY’s NAME: Today's name is GERMANUS' DAY. He was born in 378 AD in Germany and became as a lawyer governor in the Roman provinces in Gallia ( France ). He was turned into a Christian by the local bishop, and he and his wife joint a monastery. Later he was nominated bishop in Auxerre ( in nowadays Burgundy ). He died 66 years old on this day in 448 AD. He was later declared a saint with the name Saint Germanus of Auxerre. TODAY’s EVENT: 1980: Near Leningrad ( today's Saint Petersburg ) the entertainment park Andersengrad was opened as a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Heinz and 57 - what is the story? Henry J Heinz was an American businessman from Pittsburgh. He was always on the outlook for new ideas. He produced pickles, tomato sauce and many other products. When he once on a train ride say an advert which said: We sell 21 different shoes he picked up the idea to link a figure to his offers of many different products. Though his company already offered more than a hundred products he thought of the favourite figure of himself and of his wife. It was 57. Therefore, he decided that all his products should be presented with the figure 57 in the future. That is why you today always see the figure 57 on the top of all ketchup bottles. Check it out yourself! QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Eau de Cologne - why is one of them called 4711? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: When politicians towards other present demands, which they never would dare to put forward in their own name, they always do it Europe's name. This was said the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck . 2. Today’s quote: We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all of the power we need inside ourselves already. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1527: 1912: 1931: 1944: 1965: 4.

Emperor Maximilian II ( ddiedd 1576 ) Milton Friedman ( died 2006 ) Ivan Rebroff ( died 2008 ) Geraldine Chaplin J.K. Rowling

Famous people died on this day: 1886: 1944: 1964: 1993:

Franz Liszt ( 75 years ) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ( 44 years ) Jim Reeves ( 40 years ) King Baudouin ( 63 years )