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Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper (February 12, 1791 – April 4, 1883) was an
American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President
of the United States .
He designed and built the first steam locomotive in the U.S. , and founded the Cooper Union for the
Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan ,
New York
17 December, 2012
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13 December, 2012
Amanda Beard
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11 December, 2012
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06 December, 2012
05 December, 2012
Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas (or more formally Sint Nicolaas or Sint
Nikolaas; Saint Nicolas in French; Sankt Nikolaus in German) is a traditional
Winter holiday figure still celebrated today in the Low Countries, including
the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as French Flanders (Lille) and Artois
(Arras). He is also well known in territories of the former Dutch Empire,
including South Africa , Aruba , Suriname ,
Curaçao, Bonaire, and Indonesia .
He is one of the sources of the holiday figure of Santa Claus in North America .
Although he is usually referred to as Sinterklaas, he is
also known as De Goedheiligman (The Good Holy Man), Sint Nicolaas (Saint
Nicholas) or simply as De Sint (The Saint).
He is celebrated annually on Saint Nicholas' eve (5 December)
or on the morning of 6 December in the Netherlands ,
Belgium and Northern France . Originally, the feast celebrates the
name day of Saint Nicholas — patron saint of children, sailors, and the city of
Amsterdam ,
among others. Sint Nicholas being a bishop and this geographical spread make
clear that the feast in this form has a Roman Catholic background.
Closely related figures are also known in German-speaking
Europe and territories historically influenced by German culture, including:
Switzerland (Samichlaus), Germany and Austria (Sankt Nikolaus); the region of
South Tyrol in Italy; Nord-Pas de Calais, Alsace and Lorraine in France - as
well as in Luxembourg (De Kleeschen), parts of Central Europe and the Balkans.
03 December, 2012
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02 December, 2012
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01 December, 2012
30 November, 2012
29 November, 2012
28 November, 2012
27 November, 2012
Beard Token
A beard tax is one of several taxes introduced throughout
history on men who wear beards.
In 1705, Emperor Peter I of Russia
instituted a beard tax to modernize the society of Russia following European models.
Those who paid the tax were required to carry a "beard token". This
was a copper or silver token with a Russian Eagle on one side and on the other,
the lower part of a face with nose, mouth, whiskers, and beard. It was
inscribed with two phrases: "the beard tax has been taken" and
"the beard is a superfluous burden".
You can order your own beard token here.
26 November, 2012
25 November, 2012
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23 November, 2012
Czechs
Mr. Fořt 1908–1909
Long or extremely long beards were popular especially
among intellectuals, scientists and in arty quarters. This beard not only
symbolised manhood, but also symbolised dignity. It reminded people of the
ancient philosophers, and the protestant pastors, who followed the tradition of
the old law prophets. A long beard, especially when worn by an older man, and
it was grey or white, clearly demonstrated high intellect and reputation.
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20 November, 2012
Czechs
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Czechs
