Month: May 2020

National Hospital Week

In the United States, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale‘s (1820-1910) birth has been celebrated since 1921 as National Hospital Day. The May 12 observance was expanded to a week-long event in 1953 so that hospitals could use it to plan and implement more extensive public information programs. Sponsored by the American Hospital Association, National Hospital Week provides an opportunity to educate the community about the services hospitals offer and to keep the public up to date on technological advances in healthcare. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Cataphracts

Originating in Central Asia, cataphracts were heavily-armored cavalry whose horses were also covered with armor made of metal scales. The name, which also refers to the armor itself, comes from the Greek word for “armored.” Cataphracts were first used as elite cavalry by the Assyrians around 1000 BCE, and were adopted by numerous peoples in Eurasia, such as the Parthians, Sassanids, and Romans. Why did armored cavalry become obsolete in the 15th century? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Southern 500

The Southern 500 is the oldest southern stock-car race, held in Darlington, South Carolina, since 1950. Drawing about 80,000 spectators, it is one of the four so-called crown jewels in the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit and is considered the forerunner of those races. The others are the Daytona 500 (in Florida), the Winston 500 (Talladega, Alabama), and the Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte, North Carolina). The first of the southern super speedways, the oddly configured Darlington Raceway was dubbed “the Lady in Black” by sports writers. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The February Revolution

The February Revolution was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Though spontaneous and poorly organized, the revolution resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the start of a new, provisional government. It resulted from a number of factors—low confidence in the monarchy, a looming famine, and a series of failures in World War I, which Russia was ill-equipped to fight. How did Rasputin help to spur the revolution, even though he was dead? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Store Bededag

A public holiday in Denmark, Store Bededag is a nationwide day of prayer that has been observed since the 18th century. The eve of Common Prayer Day is announced by the ringing of church bells. In former times, it was customary for Copenhagen burghers to greet the spring by putting on new clothes and strolling around the city ramparts. Then they went home and ate varme hveder, a small square wheat bread. Today, people still dress in their spring finery and eat the traditional bread, but now they walk along the famous Langelinie, the boulevard that faces Copenhagen’s waterfront. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Capuchin Monkeys

Capuchins are highly intelligent monkeys that live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. In the wild, they use tools to crack open nuts and crabs and have learned to rub crushed millipedes on their backs as mosquito repellant. Easily trained, they are historically recognizable as the classic organ-grinder’s monkey and are today widely used in lab experiments and occasionally as service animals. What sorts of tasks are monkey helpers trained to perform to assist the disabled? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Calendimaggio

According to legend, St. Francis of Assisi used to walk through the streets of Assisi, Italy, at night, singing. In early May each year, long processions of messeri (gentlemen) and madonne (ladies), escorted by knights and esquires, compete with each other in singing and music at the Piazza del Comune. In addition to commemorating the town’s patron saint, these singing contests serve as an official welcome to May, which is known as the month of love. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary