The Original Castaway The Year of the Pig On February 1, 1709, Alexander island. While food and shelter came Xin nián kuài lè! That concerning the pig is triumphed and was Selkirk was rescued from an island easily, keeping his sanity was more means “Happy New not very flattering. added to the zodiac. after being stranded there for four difficult. When a ship arrived on the Year” in Chinese. The legend states that years. His return to England inspired horizon to save him, it was navigated February 5 ushers in The Chinese New Year’s when the Jade Emperor the novelist Daniel Defoe to write by none other than William Dampier, the Year of the Pig, a celebration lasts not for declared that he was his masterpiece Robinson Crusoe. a buccaneer under whom Selkirk very auspicious year in one day, but for two whole had sailed on the Cinque Ports. Chinese culture. Why selecting animals for weeks. February 19 brings Selkirk was a hot-tempered In England, Selkirk found it difficult does the pig represent the zodiac, all the the five-day-long Lantern navigator of the ship Cinque to reintegrate into society. He often wealth and good animals rushed to his Festival. The displaying Ports. When conditions on board mused that he was happiest alone fortune? Perhaps the palace to be included. of lanterns is a major got bad, Selkirk tried to raise a and penniless on his island. chubbiness of the pig But the pig journeyed event, and one of the mutiny against the ship’s young indicates prosperity. slowly, and when he most popular pastimes captain. Unfortunately for Selkirk, Daniel Defoe was intrigued with Or maybe it is because arrived, the gates were of the Lantern Festival he was abandoned on Más a Tierra Selkirk’s story and so wrote a wild boars are known shut. However, the other is guessing at riddles. island off the coast of Chile. Selkirk romanticized version of it in Robinson to be fearless and will animals pleaded with Riddles are written expected another friendly ship to Crusoe. This story has often been run headlong into any the Jade Emperor to on lanterns, and the arrive within days, but another criticized for its colonialist suppression situation, usually let him in. He conceded, answers to these riddles ship did not arrive for four years of an indigenous culture. Perhaps and the pig was allowed often involve blessings winning out in the Notable Notable and four months. Amazingly, Selkirk we should celebrate February 1 end. With pigs held in to enter but was made for the family and good survived. He ate fish, crayfish, and as Alexander Selkirk Day and such high esteem, it the last sign of the fortune, reinforcing the Quotable Quotable the many goats that inhabited the forget Robinson Crusoe. may be surprising to zodiac. Despite the major themes of the learn that the legend pig’s hardships, he still Chinese New Year. “I am fond of “It is far better Many Happy Returns pigs. Dogs look to be alone, up to us. Cats than to be in February is Return Shopping Carts If pushing a shopping cart back to Animal Magnetism look down to to the Supermarket Month. Shopping a supermarket all the way from a bad company.” Match the Chinese zodiac animal sign to its personality traits. us. Pigs treat carts are abandoned in the strangest highway is too much to ask, you us as equals.” ~ George of places: alongside roads, in can start by returning shopping carts 1. Rat A. Polite and imaginative Washington, ditches, under bridges. Today is the from the parking lot. Unattended 2. Snake B. Wise and attractive ~ Winston American day to put those shopping carts back carts can do a lot of damage to 3. Rooster C. Intelligent and charming Churchill, former president where they belong. It is estimated that cars. Furthermore, studies show 4. Sheep D. Confident and brave prime minister two million shopping carts are taken that abandoned shopping carts 5. Tiger E. Hard-working and kind-hearted of the United from supermarkets each year, and lead to people throwing other trash Kingdom with one shopping cart valued at $100, into parking lots. Returning carts that’s $200 million rolling away. fosters good citizenship! A Sneeze for the Ages Hard to Swallow Among his many paddy wagons known rearing his head The last Saturday in February is International Sword Swallowers Day, scientific achievements, colloquially as “black backward in a hearty a holiday not for the faint of heart or throat. Sword swallowing is not Thomas Edison is also marias”) was the testing kerchoo. Once his an illusion or trick, but an incredibly dangerous feat that takes years of known to have opened ground and laboratory marvelous film was practice. If done incorrectly, it can end with hospitalization or even death. the very first film for his kinetograph, a released to the public, Professionals, however, only suffer the occasional sore, or “sword,” throat. recording studio on forerunner to the movie Edison was contacted The key to sword swallowing is to not swallow at all! One must completely February 1, 1893, in camera. His first famous by a number of actors, relax the throat and esophagus and suppress the gag reflex, not an easy feat West Orange, New film recording is known jugglers, magicians, and considering our throats have built-in nerves designed to eject foreign objects Jersey. His Black Maria as Fred Ott’s Sneeze; he other performers begging in our esophagus. Sword swallowers do not start with swords but practice studio (named after the filmed a mere four silent him to capture their with spoons, knitting needles, and coat hangers, which makes it no less difficult. cramped, dark police seconds of Fred Ott work for posterity. Once Upon a Time Once upon a time, it was language that does Gretel,” and “Snow White” decreed that February 26 not exist today. It is no and then transcribed their Special Events in February would forevermore be surprise that fairy tales versions of Fairy Tale Day. Whether are so old. The purpose the tales into print. The you fancy woodland of these stories, after all, Brothers Grimm were sprites, fire-breathing is to teach children clear the first scientists of dragons, princesses distinctions between folklore. They even took st locked in high towers, good and evil and right positions as librarians Farkle Winners Lunch – Friday the 1 or talking animals, fairy and wrong. Fairy tales and historians at the th tales and the lessons are, in essence, morality University of Göttingen Mighty Musical Monday – Monday the 4 they impart are integral tales filled with magic and in Germany. th parts of every culture. wonder as a means to Scenic Drive – Monday the 11 attract the attention of It would be wise on Fairy th Scientists have traced a young audience. Yet, Tale Day to choose Fancy Valentine’s Day Concert- February 14 the first fairy tales back to adults are no less in a story collected by th an era before the written need of morality tales. Wilhelm Grimm, for this Lunch Bunch – Friday the 15 word. An old folktale The brothers Wilhelm brother’s birthday falls on nd entitled “The Smith and and Jakob Grimm, February 24. If you’ve ROMEOS Lunch – Friday the 22 grown tired of the same the Devil,” which is about famous for their collection th a blacksmith selling his of fairy tales, also believed old tales, then perhaps Halls Senior Center BINGO – Wednesday the 27 soul to the devil in order that many of the stories you can read a new tale, to gain magical abilities, they found such as “The King of the th dates back to the Bronze had existed for centuries Golden Mountain” or January Birthday Party – Friday the 28 “Hans My Hedgehog.” Age—6,000 years ago. before they wrote them Researchers from the down. They listened to New University of Lisbon old-timers tell in Portugal believe that the beloved tales “Little this ancient tale was Red Riding Hood,” shared orally in a “Cinderella,” “Hansel and Underwater Weddings With Valentine’s Day tropical seaside they take part in falling in the middle of destination to take part a traditional Thai February, it is no wonder in an underwater group wedding ceremony. this month is known wedding ceremony. On Then—for qualified as Wedding Month. The the 13th, couples are divers only—comes the city of Trang in Thailand greeted at the airport big event. Tuxedoed has capitalized on lovers by Thai dancers in grooms and brides yearning to tie the knot traditional dress and dressed in white gowns on Valentine’s Day by then paraded through don their scuba kits offering a unique setting the streets of Trang to the for the underwater for a wedding—under cheers of spectators. On ceremony in the water! Every year from Valentine’s Day, couples protected, pristine February 13 to 15, are boated to the island waters of Thailand’s couples flock to this of Koh Kradan, where Andaman Coast. Top Farkle Scores for January Mildred C. 13,900 Dot M. 12,350 Come play Farkle with us on Tuesdays at 3:30pm! It is okay if you have never played- we work together through each game. The top two winners for each month are treated to a special lunch! Beauty & Barber Shop Stylist Ms. Janice Open Thursday and Friday .