History – Ringo Lingo

Pyramids

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:54:56 +0000

A pyramid is a building with a square? or triangular base and sides that slope inwards.? The Egyptian pyramids are perhaps the most famous of? these structures, but they are found elsewhere around the world.? There are some fine examples still existing? in central and south America and there are also? historical examples in parts of Asia,? including Cambodia and Tajikstan.? In the modern world, the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris? maybe one of the most famous examples.

The History of Halloween

Kate Pullen — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:27:56 +0000

Halloween is a celebration? observed on October 31st.?

Halloween is said to have originated with? the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.? The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1st.? The Celts believed that on the night before the? new year, the boundary between the worlds of? the living and the dead became blurred.? They celebrated Samhain on October 31st,? and believed that on that night,? the dead returned to earth.?

The Celts would light bonfires, and wear costumes? in an attempt to ward off evil spirits.? They also practiced fortune telling and witchcraft.? The ancient Celts believed that their priests? (known as Druids) had the power to predict the future.?

Many of these traditions can be found? in modern day Halloween celebrations.?

Today, Halloween is celebrated around the world.? Many people celebrate Halloween by dressing in costumes,? going trick-or-treating and attending costume parties.? Trick-or-treating is a common Halloween tradition.? The tradition of trick-or-treating originated from the? early All Souls (or All Hallows) Day parades in England.

Mooning

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:18:20 +0000

Mooning is the act of displaying your? bare buttocks at another person.? It should come as no surprise that this crude gesture is? intended to express disrespect of another.? Though the act of exposing buttocks is thought? to date back to the middle ages,? the term mooning is probably much more modern.? In fact the term is believed? to have entered into common slang during the 1960s,? when the gesture became? more popular among students in the USA.

The History of Saint Patrick’s Day

Kate Pullen — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:16:32 +0000

Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious? holiday celebrated on March 17th.? It is observed in the United States and? by Irish people around the world.? People celebrate by wearing green? and other symbols of the Irish culture.?

Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates Saint Patrick,? the patron saint of Ireland.? Saint Patrick’s Day began as a religious holiday,? but has come to be celebrated as a cultural? and national holiday as well.?

Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain? in the fourth century.? He became a missionary in Ireland,? and he converted most of the Irish to Christianity.? Saint Patrick used the shamrock to teach about the? Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity.? Saint Patrick died on March 17th, 461 AD.

The History of Burns Night

Kate Pullen — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:05:14 +0000

Burns Night is a Scottish celebration? of the life of poet Robert Burns.? Burns Night is observed on the 25th of January each year.?

Burns Night is a celebration that has been? celebrated in Scotland for over 200 years.? The night is reserved for eating traditional Scottish foods,? including haggis, neeps and tatties? (turnips and potatoes),? and of course, drinking plenty of whisky.?

Robert Burns was born on January 25th,? 1759 in Alloway, Scotland.? He is considered by many to be? the national poet of Scotland.? He is often called the “Bard of Ayrshire”,? and he wrote in the Scots language.? Burns Night celebrates the life and work of Robert Burns.

Tow Sawyer

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:57:57 +0000

Tom Sawyer is the title character of Mark Twain’s novel? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, first published in 1876.? His popularity meant the character went on? to appear in three more novels by Twain,? as well as appearing in? at least three more unfinished novels.? It’s thought the inspiration for the books came from someone? Twain worked with in San Francisco while a journalist.? This real Tom Sawyer often shared stories of his youth with? the author, though in later life, Mark Twain claimed that others? were the true source of inspiration for the books.

The History of Boxing Day

Kate Pullen — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:54:05 +0000

Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas.? It is observed in the United Kingdom, Australia,? Canada and other Commonwealth nations.? While Christmas is celebrated on December 25th,? Boxing Day is observed on December 26th.?

Boxing Day originated in the 14th century? in England, but the tradition of? giving money and other gifts to servants? did not become common until much later.? Traditionally, employers would give their servants a box? containing gifts and bonuses on the day after Christmas.? These boxes were sometimes referred to as “Christmas Boxes”.

Al Capone

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:19:35 +0000

Al Capone or “Scarface” was an American? gangster who lived in Chicago during the? early twentieth century.? He made much of his money during the Prohibition Era,? selling illegally produced alcohol.? He initially managed to gain popularity? among the general public, presenting himself? as a modern Robin Hood type character.? Opinion towards him changed after the? Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre when seven rival? gang members were murdered in cold blood.? Despite being widely suspected of many violent crimes,? in the end he was imprisoned for tax evasion,? being sent to prison for 11 years in 1931.

Female Leaders

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:36:28 +0000

Of 195 nations, by 2021, only 70 countries have? ever elected a woman to be their leader.? Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected Prime Minister? of Sri Lanka in 1960, and became? the first female leader of the modern world.? It took until 1979 for Europe to have its first? female leaders, with women elected as Prime Ministers in? both Portugal and the United Kingdom.? So far, the USA has never elected a female leader,? though a female Vice President was elected in 2020.

First Female Soccer Match

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:26:28 +0000

It may surprise you to know that the first? official women’s soccer match took place in 1895.? Played at Crouch End in London between teams? representing North London and South London, the game was won? 7 to 1 by the North London team.? The game was not popular with everyone.? One journalist wrote in the Manchester Times newspaper? “When the novelty has worn off, I do not think? women’s football will attract the crowds.”

However, the 2019 Women’s World Cup final was? attended by 57,000 spectators and more than? 1 billion people watched the tournament on TV.

The First Joke

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:00:04 +0000

The oldest surviving joke was found by? historians written on an ancient tablet.? It was written in Sumeria between 2,300 and 1,900 BC.? Apparently the joke was translated as? “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial;? a young woman did not fart on her husband’s lap”.? It was probably funnier in ancient Sumeria.

The Shortest War Ever

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:24:47 +0000

In 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War was fought? between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar.? This one sided conflict resulted from the appointment of? a new Sultan who the British government didn’t like.? To ensure the appointment of a Sultan who? would be more supportive of British interests,? the British started a war with Zanzibar that lasted? for somewhere between 38 and 45 minutes.? On the Zanzibar side, there were about 500 casualties,? while the British suffered a single injury.? Up until the year 2020, this remains the shortest war ever.

Genghis Khan

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:23:06 +0000

In the twelfth century, Genghis Khan founded the? Mongol Empire, which went on to become the largest connected? empire in the history of the world.? That achievement came at a cost.? Genghis Khan is believed to have? been a very violent leader.? Some estimates claim that his military actions? saw as many as 60 million people killed.

Winner of Most Fraudulent Election

Ringo Lingo — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:27:46 +0000

In 1927, Charles King was elected to the? position of President of the African country? of Liberia for the third time.? He won with an impressive total of 234,000 votes,? compared to just 9,000 votes for his nearest rival.? However, at the time of the election,? Liberia only had 15,000 people who were registered to vote,? making this arguably the most fraudulent election? in the history of the world.