Thursday, 4 January 2007
Happy New Year
Given the time of year, I thought this would be of interest.
Which Scottish poet wrote 'Auld Lang Syne' around 1789 and what does the title mean?
On which date was New Year's Day celebrated in Anglo-Saxon England and which Norman king first decreed that the year should begin on 1st January?
Which well known poet explored his changing religious beliefs in a poem entitled 'New Year Letter', first published in 1941?
In which theatre was Michael Tippett's opera 'New Year' first performed in 1989?
Which Year are the Chinese celebrating between 18 February 2007 - 8 February 2008?
The arrival of the New Year provides another opportunity to remind ourselves that there is a wealth of information on the various on-line services. A lot of these services are available through your local library service. In some instances, if you are a registered member of your local library service, you can access these services at home or terminals in other public access arenas.
The five questions above can be answered from on-line sources such as KnowUK, Encyclopedia Britannica and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Searching for 'New Year' on KnowUK, to take one example, produced calendar information from Whitaker's Almanac, an article on the Scottish HogmanayCelebrations from the Hutchinson Encyclopedia of Britain, and tourist information on places to see in the new year from the Financial Times World Desk Reference. KnowUK also includes a listing of major events in 2007. From KnowUK, we learn that a health psychologist from Cardiff has devised a formula to find the unhappiest day of the year, which usually falls in January. Factors involved in his calculation include Christmas debts, poor weather, failed new year resolutions, and returning to work!
On that note, I wish you all a Happy New Year.
Which Scottish poet wrote 'Auld Lang Syne' around 1789 and what does the title mean?
On which date was New Year's Day celebrated in Anglo-Saxon England and which Norman king first decreed that the year should begin on 1st January?
Which well known poet explored his changing religious beliefs in a poem entitled 'New Year Letter', first published in 1941?
In which theatre was Michael Tippett's opera 'New Year' first performed in 1989?
Which Year are the Chinese celebrating between 18 February 2007 - 8 February 2008?
The arrival of the New Year provides another opportunity to remind ourselves that there is a wealth of information on the various on-line services. A lot of these services are available through your local library service. In some instances, if you are a registered member of your local library service, you can access these services at home or terminals in other public access arenas.
The five questions above can be answered from on-line sources such as KnowUK, Encyclopedia Britannica and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Searching for 'New Year' on KnowUK, to take one example, produced calendar information from Whitaker's Almanac, an article on the Scottish HogmanayCelebrations from the Hutchinson Encyclopedia of Britain, and tourist information on places to see in the new year from the Financial Times World Desk Reference. KnowUK also includes a listing of major events in 2007. From KnowUK, we learn that a health psychologist from Cardiff has devised a formula to find the unhappiest day of the year, which usually falls in January. Factors involved in his calculation include Christmas debts, poor weather, failed new year resolutions, and returning to work!
On that note, I wish you all a Happy New Year.
Labels: General
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