|
Aries Taurus Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpius
Ophiuchus
Sagittarius
Capricornus
Aquarius
Pisces
 Sun
enters Aquarius, 11th sign of the zodiac
(Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Aquarius,
the water bearer, is one of the oldest recognized constellations in the sky. It is found in
a region often called the
Sea due to its profusion of watery
constellations such as Cetus, Pisces,
Eridanus,
etc. Sometimes, the river Eridanus is depicted spilling from
Aquarius' watering pot.
Aquarius has been variously identified
through the ages. The best-known myth identifies Aquarius with Ganymede, a beautiful boy with whom
Zeus
fell in love, and whom he carried off to Olympus to be cupbearer to
the gods. Crater is sometimes identified as
his cup.
The astrological
sign Aquarius (January 20 - February
18) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies,
Aquarius is associated with the Classical Element Air, and thus called an Air Sign
(with Libra and
Gemini). Its polar opposite is
Leo.
Source: Wikipedia
Astrology
The
Real Constellations of the Zodiac
Astrology:
Pro
Astrology: Con
 Feast day of St
Sebastian
Sebastian, the
patron saint of archers, was an officer in the Roman army and a
favourite of the Emperor Diocletian. He was martyred in
288, by
being bound to a tree, shot at with arrows then beaten to death. He
is thus also the patron saint of pin makers. As he was a captain of
the guard, Sebastian is the patron saint of soldiers.
During the 14th Century, suffering
the pangs of the Black Death was
likened to being shot by an army of Nature's archers. Therefore, in
desparation the people prayed for the intercession of a saint
associated with archers, and St Sebastian became
associated with the plague.
Sebastian is patron of, among other things, archers, arrowsmiths, athletes, bookbinders, diseased cattle,
dying people, enemies of religion,
gardeners, iron mongers, laceworkers, lead workers, police, soldiers and stone masons.
Oscar Wilde and Sebastian
When
Irish playwright Oscar
Wilde
went to live in exile in France after his humiliating prison term in
England, he adopted the alias Sebastian Melmonth. The surname
Melmonth was a family name; Sebastian he took from the saint in a
rather pungent reflection on the prison uniform covered in arrows
that was used by Britain in those days.
Vendémiaire
| Brumaire
| Frimaire
| Nivôse
| Pluviôse | Ventôse
| Germinal
| Floréal
| Prairial
| Messidor
| Thermidor
| Fructidor
| Sansculottides
 First day of month of
Pluviôse (rainy month),
French
Republican Calendar
On October
24,
1793 the French National Convention adopted the French
Republican
Calendar (French Revolutionary Calendar) retrospectively as from September 22,
1792.
Napoleon
Bonaparte abolished it and restored the Gregorian calendar on January 1,
1806 (the day after 10 nivôse an XIV), a little over twelve years
after its introduction. However, it was used again during the brief Paris
Commune in 1871
(year LXXIX).
It was designed
by the politician and agronomist
Charles
Gilbert Romme, although it is usually attributed to
Fabre
d'Églantine, who invented the descriptive names of the months.
Instead of most days having a saint
as in the Catholic Church's calendar, each day has a
plant, a tool or an animal associated with it. Some enthusiasts
in France still use the calendar.
Each month
lasted 30 days and was divided into three decades. Every day had the
name of an agricultural plant, except the 5th (Quintidi)
and 10th day (Decadi) of every decade, which had the name
of a domestic animal (Quintidi) or an agricultural tool (Decadi).
Autumn
Vendémiaire
(from Latin vindemia, 'vintage'), begins Sep
22, 23 or
24
Brumaire
(from French brume, 'mist'), begins Oct
22, 23 or
24
Frimaire
(From French frimas, 'frost'), begins Nov
21, 22 or
23
Winter
Nivôse
(from Latin nivosus, 'snowy'), begins Dec
21, 22 or
23
Pluviôse
(from Latin pluviosus, 'rainy'), begins Jan 20, 21 or
22
Ventôse
(from Latin ventosus, 'windy'), begins Feb
19, 20 or
21
Spring
Germinal
(from Latin germen, 'seed'), begins Mar 20 or
21
Floréal
(from Latin flos, 'flower'), begins Apr 20 or
21
Prairial
(from French prairie, 'meadow'), begins May 20 or
21
Summer
Messidor
(from Latin messis, 'harvest'), begins Jun 19 or
20
Thermidor
(from Greek thermos, 'hot'), begins Jul 19 or
20
Fructidor
(from Latin fructus, 'fruits'), begins Aug 18 or
19
 Sansculottides
The Sansculottides
(also Epagomenes; French Sans-culottides, Sanculottides,
jours complementaires, jours épagomènes) are the end
of the calendar. They follow Fructidor
and precede Vendémiaire
of the next year, belonging to the summer quarter of the year.
The Sansculottides, named after the Sansculottes,
amend the 360 days of the calendar so that the beginning of the next
year is on the autumnal
equinox. There were five Sansculottides in a common year and six
in a leap year (from this derives the French name of the leap year année
sextile). The Sansculottides start on September
17 or 18
and end on September
22 or 23.
| |
1re Décade |
2e Décade |
3e Décade |
| Primidi |
1. |
Pomme
(Apple) |
11. |
Salsifis
(Salsify) |
21. |
Bacchante
(asarum baccharis) |
| Duodi |
2. |
Céleri
(Celery) |
12. |
Macre (Water
Chestnut) |
22. |
Azerole
(Crete Hawthorn) |
| Tridi |
3. |
Poire (Pear) |
13. |
Topinambour
(Jerusalem Artichoke) |
23. |
Garence
(Madder) |
| Quartidi |
4. |
Betterave
(Beet Root) |
14. |
Endive
(Endive) |
24. |
Orange
(Orange) |
| Quintidi |
5. |
Oye
(Goose) |
15. |
Dindon
(Turkey) |
25. |
Faisan
(Pheasant) |
| Sextidi |
6. |
Héliotrope
(European Turnsole) |
16. |
Chervi
(Skirret) |
26. |
Pistache
(Pistachio) |
| Septidi |
7. |
Figue (Fig) |
17. |
Cresson
(Cress) |
27. |
Macjonc (Sweetpea) |
| Octidi |
8. |
Scorsonère
(Black Salsify) |
18. |
Dentelaire (Leadwort) |
28. |
Coing
(Quince) |
| Nonidi |
9. |
Alisier
(Chequer Tree) |
19. |
Grenade
(Pomegranate) |
29. |
Cormier
(Service Tree) |
| Decadi |
10. |
Charrue
(Plough) |
20. |
Herse
(Harrow) |
30. |
Rouleau
(Roller) |
Source: Wikipedia Website converts
Gregorian calendar to FRC (and has desktop
program)
High
resolution image of the calendar by Louis-Philibert Debucourt
(951x1098, 486 KB)
Antique
Decimal Watches Criticisms
and shortcomings of the FRC Julian day calculator (pop-up)
Date
converter for numerous calendars, including this one
Calendrica,
great calendar comparisons
The
Book
of Days index page shows the current day's date in the French
Republican Calendar
Celtic tree
month of Beth
(Birch) Dec
24 - Jan 20 ends
Reindeer Day (no further
information given) Source
Feast day of St Benedict
Ricasoli
Feast day of St Cyprian
Michael Iwene Tansi
Feast day of St Daniel of
Cambron
Feast day of St Didier of
Thérouanne
Feast day of St Eustochia
Calafato
Feast day of St Euthymius
the Great
Feast day of St Fabian (Large dead nettle; Larnium garganicum is
today's
plant, dedicated to this saint.)
Feast day of St Fechin of
Fobhar, abbot in Ireland
Feast day of St Maria
Cristina dell'Immacolata Concezione
Feast day of St Maurus of
Cesena
Feast day of St Molagga of
Fermoy
Feast day of St Neophytus
of Nicaea
Feast day of St Paula
St Paula's
Feast Day celebrates a young girl saved from the passions of a
pursuer by running into a church, where she grew a beard
Click for Eastern Orthodox liturgical days Shop saints
Thorrablottar or
Husbands' Day, Iceland
Source: The Phoenix and
Arabeth 1992 Calendar
Baba Den
(Grandmothers' Day), Bulgaria
Source: The Phoenix and
Arabeth 1992 Calendar
La Tamborrada,
San Sebastian, Spain
(Jan 19 - 20)
Independence
Day, Tunisia
Rio de Janiero
Foundation Day, Brazil (San Sebastian is the city's patron)
Nosso Senhor
do Bonfim Festival (Festa do Bonfim),
Salvador,
Bahia,
Brazil
(c. Jan
13 - 20)
Last day of
Our Lord of the Happy Ending Festival, one of
Salvador's most colourful fiestas.
Jyogyodo
Hatsuka Yasai, Motsu-ji Temple, Hiraizumi-cho, Iwate Prefecture,
Japan
Men wearing only loincloths in the cold march in line following
a torchbearer. When they reach Motsu-ji they do battle for
possession of sacred charms.
Tenmangu
Kowakamai, Setaka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
The oldest style of bugaku in Japan is performed at this
festival. The dances performed here are progenitors of later styles.
Shiwasu Matsuri, Mikado Jinja, Nango,
Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan (Jan 20 - Feb 20)
This fest commemorates the area's
history as the site to where Korean nobles of the kingdom of Paekche
fled after their defeat in battle in the 7th Century. The Shiwasu
has a re-enactment of the meeting between the Paekche king and his
son, and here the visitor will see many traditional dances.
Taikan Misogi, Kasuga Jinja, Hofu,
Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (3 days around Jan 20)
On what is decreed to be the coldest day of the year
(English tradition has January 13,
St Hilary's Day, as the coldest). Players soak themselves in a
bath of cold water before consuming hot drinks and porridge. This
practice helps prevent colds in the coming year. Or, so it is said.
Presidential Inauguration
Day in the United States (every
four years)
"Every
four years a newly elected president of the United States is
sworn into office on this date. Prior to 1933, presidents were
inaugurated on March 4, but when the Twentieth Amendment was
passed, January 20 became the official date for inauguration. A
legal holiday in Washington D.C." Source
National Heroes' Day,
Cape
Verde
National Heroes' Day,
Guinea-Bissau
Army Day, Mali
225 Gordian
III
(d. 244), Roman emperor
1435 Ashikaga
Yoshimasa (d. 1490), Ashikaga shogun
1554
Sebastian
I 'the Desired" (in Portuguese,
Sebastião I, o Desejado; presumed to have died at Alcazarquivir,
August
4, 1578),
the sixteenth king
of Portugal and Algarves. Sebastianism, the cult which arose
after his death is discussed at August
4 in the Book of Days.
1812 Thomas
Meik (d. 1896), engineer
1837 David Josiah
Brewer (d. 1910), US
Supreme Court justice
Pictured: (Left)
Harriot Easton Stanton Blatch public speaking;
(centre) Elizabeth Cady Stanton with daughter HES Blatch and granddaughter Nora Blatch;
(right) HES Blatch
1856
Harriot
Eaton Stanton Blatch (d. November 20,
1940), American women's rights
and peace activist and author (A Woman's Point of View;
Some Roads to Peace; Challenging Years).
Due to her organizing abilities, 20,000 people marched in the parade
down Fifth Avenue in New York in 1914, organized by the Women's
Political Union, which she founded. Blatch worked
with her mother Elizabeth Cady Stanton
and Susan B
Anthony in completing their History of Woman Suffrage,
contributing a large chapter on Lucy Stone's
American
Woman Suffrage Association, a rival organization to Elizabeth
Cady Stanton's
and Susan B
Anthony's
National Woman Suffrage Association.
Her daughter, Nora Stanton Blatch (b.1883), was the first American
woman to receive the degree of Civil Engineer.
"During a visit from suffragist Anne Cobden-Sanderson, well-known in England but unknown in America, Blatch casually informed an immigration official of Mrs. Cobden-Sanderson's prison record. His efforts to block the well-connected suffragist's immigration made him an unwitting
'Sir Galahad' by creating all the publicity Blatch wanted. During the Republican parade preceding the 1908 election, Blatch stationed the exquisite Inez Milholland in a storefront window along the parade route. Distracted by this striking beauty, the young male marchers broke ranks, and
'the young Republicans were persuaded to withdraw and console themselves with suffrage literature'."
Source
More
Works by Harriot Eaton Stanton Blatch
A
world chronology of women's electoral rights
 1869 F Matthias Alexander
(Frederick Matthias Alexander; d. October 10,
1955), Australian actor
and elocutionist who developed the educational process that is today
called the Alexander
Technique – a method of helping people learn to free habitual
reactions of moving, learned by improving one's kinesthetic
judgment. He was born in Tasmania, later
moved to Melbourne, and
finally settled in London in 1904.
Some people who used the Alexander
Technique: John Cleese,
Aldous
Huxley, Nikki Tinbergen, guitarist Julian Bream, flautist James Galway,
educator John Dewey
(who had Alexander Technique lessons for 35 years) and New Zealand anthropologist,
Derek Freeman.
During Australia's bicentennial
celebrations in 1988, Alexander was recognised as one of the two hundred great Australians.
"Unfortunately his career was marred because he often lost his voice during performance. Continual medical treatment only gave Alexander temporary respite and his performance continued to be affected adversely. As his vocal problem was confined to his voice on stage Alexander speculated that he must have been doing something on stage in the act of reciting, which caused his vocal problems. Using mirrors, he began a 7 year long, detailed study of the way he was using his muscles when he spoke, and observed that undue muscular tension accounted for his vocal problem. He found that he habitually pulled his head back and down and shortened his neck before speaking. He also observed that such habits are common to all of us. When he corrected this habit, not only did his vocal problems disappear, his overall health improved as well. And so he discovered and developed the technique, which bears his name."
Source
"One thing puzzled Alexander: when talking to friends there were no voice problems, but on stage, his voice did not function efficiently. He wanted to solve this problem so obtained mirrors for observing the manner of his use when speaking normally or when reciting."
Source
Pictured: Australian therapist F Matthias Alexander teaching
the Alexander Technique to American educator John Dewey
F
Matthias Alexander and John Dewey (lots of
links) John Dewey Vs. the
Alexander Technique
The Complete Guide to
the Alexander Technique
1873 Johannes
Vilhelm Jensen (d. 1950), Danish author, Nobel
Prize winner
1876 Jozef Hofmann (d. 1967),
Polish pianist
1878 Ruth St Denis (d. 1968),
dancer
1894 Walter Piston,
American composer
1896 George Burns
(b. Nathan Birnbaum; d. March 9, 1996),
American comedian.
Straight man to his wife,
Gracie Allen ,
for many years, George Burns survived her by 32 years, during which
time he was unable to utter his famous line, "Say
goodnight, Gracie", an affectionate put-down that has become
part of the English language. More quotes from the
legendary funny-man:
More quotes from
funny-man George
Burns
Fall in love with what you
do for a living. I don't care what it is. It works.
Retire? I'm going to
stay in show business until I'm the only one left.
On appearance: Take
care not to wear stripes that are out of sync with your wrinkles.
I did go to school -
my kind of school. When I was a kid I went out... and you meet
people. You talk to them. Anybody says something that makes sense,
it stays with you, rubs off on you. That kind of school.
You know, lots of
times people have asked me what Gracie and I did to make our
marriage work. It's simple - we didn't do anything. I think the
trouble with a lot of people is that they work too | reetings from Australia.
How it works
