Trivia and Amazing Facts 24-01-09

• WHAT DO HERRING, CABBAGE, AND CARROTS REPRESENT AT NEW YEAR'S EVE FEASTS IN GERMANY AND SCANDINAVIA? Herring represents good luck; cabbage, plenty of silver; and carrots, gold in the year ahead.

• WHY DO SOLDIERS WEAR KHAKI? Because of Lieutenant Burnett of the Queen's Own Corps of Guides. In December 1846, the English officer was told to develop a "mud-colored" uniform that would camouflage soldiers in dusty surroundings. By early 1847, Burnett had clothed his troops in the light-colored uniform named khaki, which comes from the Persian khak, meaning "dust" or "ashes." On May 25, 1857, the British 52nd Regiment became the first regular division to sport khakis.

• The curtain or veil used by some Hindus and Moslems to seclude or hide their women from strangers is called a "purdah."

• Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine.

• WHAT WAS THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND FLYING A FLAG AT HALF-MAST AS A SIGN OF MOURNING WHEN THE CUSTOM WAS FIRST INTRODUCED AT SEA IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY? The top of the mast was left empty for the invisible flag of death.

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