Month: May 2024

17
May
2024

FRIDAY already?

Today is Constitution Day in Norway. It is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday each year on May 17th. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to as ‘Syttende Mai‘ (simply meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (National Day) or less commonly, Grunnlovsdagen (Constitution Day).

Following the Napoleonic Wars, Norway’s Constitution, which declared the country as a kingdom independent of Sweden was signed at what is now widely considered one of Norway’s most symbolic markers of national pride, the Eidsvoll Manor House, officially beginning its path to total independence.

Constitution Day is often kicked off by many Norwegians with a traditional 17. Mai breakfast of smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and a fresh loaf of bread, accompanied by a glass of champagne. Breakfast is just the start of the spring holiday that many view as a time to indulge in guilty food pleasures, especially ice cream and hot dogs. The national pastry for May 17th is pavlova, a cake filled with cream and fruit made from a meringue mass.

The May 17th celebrations vary across Norway, but they all follow a traditional pattern that makes this a day centered on the children.

The highlights are the children’s processions, made up of school classes marching through the local community, led by the school band. Most children have their own small Norwegian flag to wave, and the route is lined with enthusiastic onlookers. The first children’s processions were duly arranged in 1870. Since 1906, the Royal Family have gathered on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to wave to the children marching by.

Gratulerer med dagen, Norge!

Today is the birthday, in 1961, of Enya Ni Bhraonain, from Irish family band Clannad who had the 1982 UK No.5 single ‘Harry’s Game’. Enya had the solo, 1988 UK No.1 single ‘Orinoco Flow’, and the 2001 US No.2 album ‘A Day Without Rain’. Enya is Ireland’s biggest selling solo artist and second overall behind U2 with an estimated 75 million records sold worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfYIMyS_dI

Posted by Tom, 0 comments
16
May
2024

Did someone say THURSDAY?

Today is SPLA Day, a public holiday in South Sudan. This holiday commemorates the foundation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army on this day in 1983.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was founded as a rebel movement on May 16th 1983. It was led by Commander-in-Chief John Garang de Mabior. Along with the political wing, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the aim of the SPLA was to establish an autonomous Southern Sudan, initially within a united Sudan.

Its military actions against the Sudanese government became the Second Sudanese Civil War that would last until 2005. After South Sudan gained its independence in 2011, the SPLA became the army of the new country. 

Nothing I could add here…

BEAR WITH ME

Thanks Debra!

Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Barbara Lee, singer, from American all-girl group The Chiffons who had the 1963 US No.1 single ‘He’s So Fine’, and the 1972 UK No.4 single ‘Sweet Talking Guy’, (first released in 1966). Lee died on 15th May 1992. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvyOqKhKWQ4

Posted by Tom in doo-wop, Humor, Music, 0 comments
15
May
2024

WEDNESDAY in the middle

Today is a public holiday in South Korea to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday. This national holiday is also known as ‘Seokga tansinil’. In Korea, the date of the birthday of Buddha is determined by the Lunisolar calendar. It takes place on the 8th day of the 4th month of the Lunar calendar, which means it usually falls in late April or early May.

Buddha’s birthday has been a public holiday in South Korea since 1975, with the number of followers of Buddhism in South Korea estimated at 10 million.

The holiday is marked by lantern festivals and temples open their doors offering visitors free tea and a meal of rice and vegetables called bibimbab. People also hang lotus lanterns in their homes and streets as well as covering the temples with lanterns during the holy month.

In Seoul, there is an evening parade from Tapgol Park to Jogyesa on the Sunday before the actual holiday. Though it’s a national holiday, shopping sites, restaurants, and entertainment sectors such as movie theaters open as usual on Buddha’s Birthday.

SIGNZ

Today is the birthday, in 1937, of American singer, guitarist Trini Lopez, who scored the 1963 US No.3 & UK No.4 single ‘If I Had A Hammer’. Other hits included ‘Lemon Tree’, ‘I’m Comin’ Home, Cindy’ and ‘Sally Was a Good Old Girl’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp1z8EzZ5Hs

Posted by Tom in folk, Humor, Music, 0 comments
14
May
2024

Who likes TUESDAY!!

Today is Independence Day in Paraguay.

This public holiday is celebrated on May 14th. The holiday lasts for two days and May 15th is the National Day of Paraguay. Known in Spanish as ‘Día de la Independencia Nacional’, this holiday celebrates Paraguay’s independence from Spain in 1811.

Paraguay was first colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century. The settlement of Asunción, now the capital of Paraguay, was founded by the Spanish on Ascension Day (August 15th) 1537.

The region had shown dissent against the Spanish for several years and tension had risen in the early years of the nineteenth century due to the growing influence of Argentina in the area.

Some bad decisions by the Governor had weakened Spanish presence, which was already affected by the Napoleonic Wars, enabling the Paraguayans, led by a lawyer, Dr José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia., to overthrow the Spanish in a fairly bloodless revolution on May 14th 1811.

As a result, Paraguay became the second independent nation in the new world – the United States was the first. Dr Francia became the first President of Paraguay, ruling from 1814 to 1840.

He was influential in the design of the flag of Paraguay, which uniquely is the only national flag in the world that has a different image on each side. In the center of one side is the Paraguayan coat of arms, and on the opposite, the treasury seal with the national motto: “Paz y justicia” (“Peace and Justice”).

Sourdough…

BADA BING!!!

The trash man left an AA meeting schedule on my trash can.

Not every day “has to count”. Some days are just about making it to the next day.

The man on the news said, “At the end of the day, what’s going to keep you safe is common sense.” Some of you are in big trouble.

We all know mirrors don’t lie. I’m just grateful that they don’t laugh.

You just don’t see enough people being taken away in straight jackets anymore.

This is the fifth time you’ve been late for school this week! You know what that means?! It’s Friday?

I just saved tons of money on my car insurance by driving away and not leaving a note.

Your pronoun is dumbass. It’s gender-neutral.

Just blocked somebody for correcting my grammar and it feeled grate.

Gasoline is so expensive that the mailman had to start working from home…He called and read my bills to me.

How many of you knew that before McDonald sold hamburgers, he owned a farm?

Happy 5th birthday to the tartar sauce in my fridge.

Today is the birthday, in 1943, of Scottish musician, singer and songwriter Jack Bruce who was a member of the Graham Bond Organization, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann and Cream, who had the 1967 UK No.11 single ‘I Feel Free’, and the 1968 US No.5 single ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. Their 1968 Wheels of Fire becoming the first platinum-selling double album. Also a member of West, Bruce and Laing. Bruce died on 25 October 2014 from liver disease in Suffolk, England, aged 71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_u1eu6Lpds

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies, 0 comments
13
May
2024

mmmmmmmMONDAY!

Today is Girmit Day in Fiji. It is a public holiday celebrated on the Monday nearest May 14. This holiday was established to honor the settlers from India who began arriving in Fiji on May 14th 1897. In announcing this new holiday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said: “They were starting a new life in an unknown land and stayed to become an integral part of our country. I reconfirm my promise to inaugurate a new national holiday in 2023.”

The word girmit represented an Indian pronunciation of the English language word “agreement” – from the indenture “agreement” of the British Government with Indian labourers. The agreements specified the workers’ length of stay in foreign parts and the conditions attached to their return to the British Raj.

The colonial authorities promoted the sugar cane industry, recognizing the need to establish a stable economic base for the colony, but were unwilling to exploit indigenous labor and threaten the Fijian way of life. The use of imported labor from the Solomon Islands and what is now Vanuatu generated protests in the United Kingdom, and the Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon decided to implement the indentured labor scheme, which had existed in the British Empire since 1837.

The Leonidas, a labor transport vessel, disembarked at Levuka from Calcutta on May 14th 1879. The 498 indentured workers who disembarked were the first of over 61,000 to arrive from South and East Asia in the following 37 years. The majority were from the districts of eastern and southern provinces, followed by laborers from northern and western regions, then later south eastern countries, they originated from different regions, villages, backgrounds and castes that later mingled or intermarried hence the “Fijian Indian” identity was created. The indentured workers originated mostly from rural village backgrounds. 

After five years of work in the cane fields, the British freed the girmits from bonded labor but did not offer them a passage back. So, most of them stayed back and by the mid-1980s their descendants through hard work and education have made a mark in Fiji dominating business and professional fields.

Lily’s surprise…

Mother’s Day??

Today is the birthday, in 1950, of American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder. A child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Wonder who has been blind from shortly after birth, signed with Motown’s Tamla label at the age of eleven and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day. Wonder has scored over 40 US & UK Top 40 singles. Albums include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxoBaEQGMPo

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music, 0 comments