Countries & Customs

Even an Ancient Egyptian Mummy needs a passport!

…AND DID YOU PACK YOUR CASE YOURSELF, SIR?

The ancient Egyptian mummy of famous King Rameses the Great, or Rameses II as he is more commonly known had his own real-life passport! On the passport it listed his occupation as “King (deceased)”!

In 1974, the mummy had to be flown from the Cairo Museum to Paris where experts could examine it’s rapidly deteriorating condition. Scientific analysis in Paris revealed a fungal infection, for which the ancient cadaver was treated. The examination also revealed old battle wounds and bone fractures in addition to the Pharaoh’s poor circulation and arthritis.

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Posted by majordomo@incrediblefacts.com on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 2:11 pm in Ancient World, Bizarre, Countries & Customs, Famous People, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Think you know about “Robbie Burns”? Er, who’s that?

The famous Scottish bard, the Ayrshire ploughman, the people’s poet – Robert Burns was called many things – but was not known by the contraction, “Robbie” in his lifetime. Nor Rabbie. He was known as Robert, or Rob; and he refers to himself as Rantin’ Robin in a poem, but Robbie was a later, sentimental invention.

The great Romantic poet died aged just 37 from a complication of dental surgery resulting in blood poisoning and aggravation of his long-standing rheumatic heart condition. The image of the alcoholic philanderer was wide of the mark. Like many a man of the time, and since, Rob enjoyed life’s pleasures, but was no brute. The Edinburgh literati worked to sentimentalise Burns during his life and after his death, dismissing his education by calling him a “heaven-taught ploughman”. The truth is that Burns, while not of aristocratic birth, was certainly schooled and had a firm grasp of literature and classics.

Despite his tragically short life, Burns has had arguably more worldwide influence than any other poet. His themes of freedom, fraternity and love, being masterfully presented, have won him admirers in every country. When asked to say which lyric or verse was the greatest influence on his own work, Bob Dylan chose “My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose,” by Burns.

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Posted by majordomo@incrediblefacts.com on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 12:41 pm in Countries & Customs, Famous People, Featured, Literature & Books, Music | No Comments »

Christmas trees used to be hung upside down!

Best available evidence reveals that Christmas trees were originally hung upside down from ceilings, rather than sitting the right way up in tubs.
The Christmas tree originated in pagan mid-winter festival symbology, with sacred ash and oak branches being introduced to the hearthside. When Christianity came along, the symbol was adapted to suit the new religion. The triangular form of the pine and fir trees became more popular as a representation of the Christian trinity. However the upside-down tradition continued at least as far as the 12th Century.

The baubles on our trees also originate in pagan times, as fruit was used to decorate the trees. Electric lights, however, didn’t become popular until the 20th Century!

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Posted by majordomo@incrediblefacts.com on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 8:18 am in Countries & Customs, Religion & Beliefs | No Comments »

Hallowe’en is 31st October, right? Well, think again…

We all know Christmas is on 25th December, and Bonfire Night is remembered on the 5th November, and Hallowe’en is on 31st October, and….wait a minute…not everywhere it’s not!

Tags: Bizarre, custom, Halloween, kids, Kilmarnock, local, Scotland, spooky, trick or treat, weird
Posted by majordomo@incrediblefacts.com on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 1:12 pm in Bizarre, Countries & Customs, Religion & Beliefs | No Comments »

Most tigers in the world live in the USA!

You would be forgiven for thinking that tigers, although endangered, would be most prevalent in their native lands of India, Africa and Tibet etc. The sad truth however is that most tigers are in captivity rather than their natural wild habitats.

The USA has the most tigers in ownership, with an estimated 4,000 in Texas alone. Mike Tyson personally owns 4 tigers as pets. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association estimates that there are up to 12,000 tigers in the US.

Some scientists estimate that there are only between 5,000 and 7,000 wild tigers left on the planet. To put this in some perspective, a century ago there were 40,000 in India alone.

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Posted by majordomo@incrediblefacts.com on Sunday, September 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am in Countries & Customs, Natural World, animals & pets | No Comments »