Opposite Day 2014
January 25, 2014 in the World
Opposite Day is observed on January 25, 2014, where speech is modified so that meaning is inverted. Once Opposite Day is declared, statements mean the opposite of what they usually mean. If you say yes, it means no. If you say bright, you mean dark. And so on … Opposite Day can also be declared retroactively to indicate that what was just asserted had the opposite meaning of what was originally intended (similar to the practice of crossed fingers to automatically nullify promises).
In lexical semantics, opposites are words that lie in an inherently incompatible binary relationship as in the opposite pairs male : female, long : short, and precede : follow. The notion of incompatibility here refers to the fact that one word in an opposite pair entails that it is not the other pair member. For example, something that is long entails that it is not short.
Opposites are simultaneously different and similar in meaning. Typically, they differ in only one dimension of meaning, but are similar in most other respects, including similarity in grammar and positions of semantic abnormality. Additionally, not all words have an opposite. Some words are non-opposable. For example, animal or plant species have no binary opposite.
Where is Opposite Day?
Worldwide
Dydd Santes Dwynwen
January 25, 2014 in Wales
Dydd Santes Dwynwen is celebrated on January 25, 2014. Dydd Santes Dwynwen (Welsh for St Dwynwen’s Day) is considered to be the Welsh equivalent to Valentine’s Day. It celebrates Dwynwen: she is the Welsh saint of love. The popularity and celebration of St Dwynwen’s day has increased considerably in recent years, with special events, such as concerts and parties, often held and greetings cards printed. Although still not as popular as St Valentine’s Day in February, St Dwynwen is certainly becoming better-known among today’s population of Wales.
Where is Dydd Santes Dwynwen?
Nationwide Wales
Burns Supper 2014
January 25, 2014 in Scotland
A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are held on or near January 25, 2014, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day, Robbie Burns Day or Burns Night.
Burns suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland but occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or aficionados of Burns’ poetry. There is a particularly strong tradition of them in southern New Zealand’s main city Dunedin, of which Burns’ nephew Thomas Burns was a founding father.
Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish celebrated by Burns in Address to a Haggis), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns’ poetry. Formal dinners are hosted by organisations such as Burns clubs, the Freemasons or St Andrews Societies and occasionally end with dancing when ladies are present. Formal suppers follow a standard format.
Where is Burns Supper?
Nationwide Scotland
Tatiana Day 2014
January 25, 2014 in Russia
Tatiana Day takes place on January 25, 2014. Tatiana Day is a Russian religious holiday. It is named after Saint Tatiana, a Christian martyr in 3rd century Rome during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. In 1755 on the name day of Ivan Shuvalov’s mother Tatiana Rodionovna, his mistress Empress Elizabeth of Russia endorsed his petition to establish a university in Moscow. The church of Saint Tatiana was later built in the university campus, the Russian Orthodox Church declared Saint Tatiana the patron saint of students, and Tatiana Day has become celebrated as Russian Students Day. Coincidentally 25 January is also end of the first term of traditional academic year for Russian students – the end of winter exams session, followed by a two-week winter holiday.
Where is Tatiana Day?
Nationwide Russia
Conversion of Paul the Apostle
January 25, 2014 in the World
Conversion of Paul the Apostle takes place on January 25, 2014. The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches. This feast is at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an international Christian ecumenical observance that began in 1908, which is an octave spanning from January 18 (observed in Anglican and Lutheran tradition as the Confession of Peter) to January 25. The Conversion of Paul the Apostle, was, according to the New Testament, an event that took place in the life of Paul the Apostle which led him to cease persecuting early Christians and to become a follower of Jesus.
Where is Conversion of Paul the Apostle?
Worldwide
National Police Day
January 25, 2014 in Egypt
National Police Day takes place on January 25, 2014. National Police Day is a national holiday in Egypt that occurs each year. The holiday commemorates and is a remembrance for 50 police officers killed and more wounded when they refused British demands to hand over weapons and evacuate the Ismaïlia Police Station on 25 January 1952. The British Army surrounded the police station, then brought tanks in and took over the station. The event was photographed by a local man and photos were published, inciting anger and riots throughout Egypt. January 25 was declared as an official holiday in 2009 by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to recognize the efforts of Egyptian police to maintain security and stability in Egypt and acknowledge their sacrifices.
Where is National Police Day?
Nationwide Egypt
Historical Events:
41 – After a night of negotiation, Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate.
1348 – Earthquake destroys Villach, killing 5,000
1579 – Treaty of Utrecht signed, marks beginning of Dutch Republic
1870 – Soda fountain patented by Gustavus Dows
1875 – Anti-slavery society forms (NY)
1881 – Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company.
1910 – Children initiate idea of planting trees in Jerusalem
1919 – Founding of League of Nations, 1st meeting 1 year later
1924 – 1st Winter Olympic games open in Chamonix, France
1949 – 1st Israeli election – Ben-Gurion’s Mapai party wins
1955 – US & Panama sign canal treaty
1974 – Christian Barnard transplants 1st human heart without removal of old
1981 – Mao’s widow Jiang Qing sentenced to death
1993 – Sears announces it is closing its catalog sales dept after 97 years
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