History Schmistory, May 15: Mary Queen of Scots
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots marries James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell. Later, according to Monty Python, she dies:
History Schmistory, April 21: I Founded Rome! No, I Founded Rome!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome (traditional date). Also, first recorded Roman sibling rivalry. Their disagreement has to be settled by their mom, a she-wolf.
History Schistory, April 19: Drake sinks Armada
Thursday, April 19, 2012
1587 - Sir Frances Drake sails into Cadiz Spain & sinks Spanish fleet, which shifts the balance of power in the world away from Spain and toward England and France. How did he ever manage to sink such a huge car? Oh, wait, the car is named after the fleet, not the other way around. Got it!
History Schmistory, April 17: Canterbury Tales Told for the First Time!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
1397 - Geoffrey Chaucer tells the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. Chaucer scholars have also identified this date (in 1387) as when the book’s pilgrimage to Canterbury starts. After all, it does start “Whan that aprill with his shoures soote the droghte of march hath perced to the roote”
History Schmistory, April 15: Kid Born in Vinci
Sunday, April 15, 2012
1452. Leonardo Da Vinci born out of wedlock in Vinci, Italy. Because he is illegitimate, he will need to find a trade, instead of becoming a government worker like his father.
History Schmistory, April 11: Hey, Babe, Wanna Start a College?
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
1689 - William III & Mary II crowned as joint rulers of Britain. To celebrate, they have dinner, then found a college in the new fangled colony of Virginia. Jon Stewart went there!
History Schmistory, April 5: Bring Me Back Some Scones!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
1621 - Mayflower sails from Plymouth on a return trip to England.
Culture Buzz: Savage Easter
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
In the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary it is an Easter tradition to torment women for the day. This typically includes dousing them with water and/or lightly spanking them. Seriously. Somehow, symbolically the ritual is meant to keep them young and fertile, derived from an old medieval tradition that probably should’ve stayed just that. Though most observe the tradition playfully, there are always a few who ruin it for everyone. So, to be safe, many ladies of Central Europe will justifiably choose to stay in this Sunday.
History Schmistory, April 3: The Crown? Your Face!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
1657 - English Lord Protector Cromwell refuses crown.
GO THERE! Easter has an Island?
Monday, April 2, 2012
Easter Island is named so because Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen landed there on Easter Sunday in 1722. That’s all. Natives actually call this mysterious and isolated island Rapa Nui. But, we still think it would be a great place to go for an Eater egg hunt!
