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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

Uh oh….TUESDAY

The Labor Day/May Day in Greece is held today as May 1 fell during Orthodox Holy Week. For many countries, May 1st is International Labor Day. This is also a national holiday in Greece, though it is more commonly called “Protomagia” meaning the first day of May. 

Protomagia finds its origins in ancient Greece as a celebration of nature’s rebirth, spring, and flowers. The month May was named after the Greek Goddess Maia, who was linked with the Ancient Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May.

Many people traditionally go to the countryside for a picnic, to fly kites and gather wildflowers for a flower wreath called “Stefania” that people hang on the front doors of their houses to welcome spring. It is also the date for locals to attempt the first swim of the season.

In villages across Corfu, residents walk around holding a cypress tree trunk, covered with yellow daisies. The trunk, called the “Mayoxilo”, is covered in a wreath made from green branches. Young men carry it while wearing white clothes and red scarves as they walk around the streets of the villages singing songs about May.


Sounds like a threat to me…

Charles is at it again…

Bada Bing!!

My friend said, “Wow! Your wife and daughter look like they are sisters.” Me: They were separated at birth.

I’m thinking about joining the cicadas this summer and just screaming for 6 weeks straight.

Did you ever get the urge to organize then 2 hours later look at the mess you created and wonder ‘What have I done’.

Principal: Hey, your child has been causing problems in school. Me: My child causes problems at home too, do I ever call you?

Wisdom has been chasing you, but you’ve always been faster.

A 3D printer that can print guns? Pfft, that’s nothing.  I’ve had a Canon printer for years.

Well, my employment rejection wasn’t all bad. They said my background check kept them entertained for days.

Much of my job as an electrician involved splicing tiny wires. Ever since I lost my depth perception I’ve had a hard time making ends meet.

I’m not sure if life is passing me by or trying to run me over.

I may not be a smart man, but I’ve never bought a bible from the antichrist.

I have started yelling “not friendly” to people when someone tries to approach me. I learned it from the dog people.

Last night, someone broke into our house and took a dozen eggs. They also left a saucepan filled with warm water. Police believe it was poachers.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.


Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Bill Danoff, from American pop group Starland Vocal Band, who had the 1976 US No.1 & UK No.18 single ‘Afternoon Delight’ one of the biggest-selling singles of 1976. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1UXCdyNo0

Posted by Tom

Yes, it’s THURSDAY

Today is the Birth Anniversary of Third King, a public holiday in Bhutan. This holiday honors the King who took Bhutan’s first steps toward modernization, born on this day in 1929.

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was born on May 2nd 1929. He ruled Bhutan as the Third Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) for twenty years from March 1952 until his death at the age of 43 from a heart condition in July 1972.

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck is known as the Father of Modern Bhutan as he is credited with opening Bhutan to the outside world and beginning the modernization of the Kingdom. He is revered for bringing modernity to the Himalayan Kingdom while preserving Bhutanese culture.

He also initiated reforms that led a shift away from Bhutan being an absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy. “This is the 20th century,” the king once told a group of visiting Americans. “We are working to make sure that Bhutan truly belongs to this century.”

May 2nd is also celebrated as Teachers’ Day in Bhutan because it was the Third Druk Gyalpo who established a modern educational system in the country.


truth in advertising…

Classic art…


SIGNZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


Today is the birthday, in 1946, of American singer, songwriter, actress and activist, Lesley Gore, who had the 1963 US No.1 & UK No.9 single ‘It’s My Party’, (which was produced by Quincy Jones). Gore composed songs for the soundtrack of the 1980 film Fame, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Out Here on My Own’, written with her brother Michael. She died on February 16, 2015, at the NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, New York City, of lung cancer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUjeR01wnU

Posted by Tom

WENNS…the DAY

Today is Eid al Fitr in most countries of the world. It marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan for observant Muslims. Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon.


In case you were wondering…

SIGNZZZ


Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Jamaican singer songwriter and percussionist Bunny Wailer, who was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the long-time standard-bearers of reggae music. He died on 2 March 2021 age 73. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB8EwEeOZ9U

Posted by Tom