1... WHY
Why do men's clothes
have buttons on the right while women's clothes have buttons on the left?
BECAUSE
When buttons were
invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Since most
people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through
holes on the left. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids,
dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right! And that's where
women's buttons have remained since.
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2 ... WHY?
Why do ships and aircraft
use 'mayday' as their call for help?
BECAUSE
This comes from the
French word m'aidez - meaning 'help me' - and is pronounced, approximately,
'mayday.'
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3 ... WHY?
Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'?
BECAUSE
In France , where tennis became popular, the round zero on
the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which is French for
'the egg.' When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans (naturally),
mispronounced it 'love.'
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4 ... WHY?
Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses?
BECAUSE
In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or
write, documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an
oath to fulfill obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss
eventually became synonymous.
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5 ... WHY?
Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called
passing the buck'?
BECAUSE
In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called
a buck,
from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to
deal. If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility of dealing,
he would 'pass the buck' to the next player.
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6... WHY?
Why are people in the public eye said to be 'in the
limelight'?
BECAUSE
Invented in 1825,
limelight was used in lighthouses and theatres by burning a cylinder of lime
which produced a brilliant light. In the theatre, a performer 'in the
limelight' was the Centre of attention.
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7 ... WHY?
Why is someone who is feeling great 'on cloud nine'?
BECAUSE
Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they
attain, with nine being the highest cloud. If someone is said to be on cloud
nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.
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8 ... WHY?
Why are many coin collection jar banks shaped like pigs?
BECAUSE
Long ago, dishes and
cookware in Europe were made of dense orange clay called 'pygg'. When people
saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as 'pygg
banks.' When an English potter misunderstood the word, he
made a container that resembled a pig. And it caught
on.
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9 - BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS EITHER (I SURE DIDN'T)
The grandson of slaves,
a boy was born in a poor neighborhood of New Orleans known as the "Back of
Town." His father abandoned the family when the child was an infant.
His mother became a prostitute and the boy and his sister had to live with
their grandmother.
Early in life he proved
to be gifted for music and with three other kids he sang in the streets of New
Orleans. His first gains were coins that were thrown to them.
A Jewish family,
Karnofsky, who had emigrated from Lithuania to the USA, had pity for the
7-year-old boy and brought him into their home. Initially giving 'work' in the
house, to feed this hungry child. There he remained and slept in this Jewish
family's home where, for the first time in his life, he was treated with
kindness and tenderness.
When he went to bed, Mrs. Karnovsky sang him a Russian
lullaby that he would sing with her. Later, he learned to sing and play several
Russian and Jewish songs.
Over time, this boy became the adopted son of this family.
The Karnofskys gave him money to buy his first musical instrument; as was the
custom in the Jewish families.
They sincerely admired his musical talent. Later, when he
became a professional musician and composer, he used these Jewish melodies in
compositions, such as St. James Infirmary and Go Down Moses.
The little black boy
grew up and wrote a book about this Jewish family who had adopted him in
1907. In memory of this family and until the end of his life, he
wore a Star of David and said that in this family, he had learned "how to
live real life and determination."
You might recognize his name. This little boy was
called: Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.
Louis Armstrong proudly spoke fluent Yiddish!
"Satchmo" is Yiddish for Big Cheeks!
1 comment:
That's some cool stuff!!
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