Knowledge for the People, Or, the Plain Why & Because (Volume 1); Domestic Series

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1832 Excerpt: ... ORIGINS AND ANTIQUITIES. THE CALENDAR. Why is a table of the year called a calendar? Because the Romans called the first days of each month Calends, from a word which signified called; on account of the pontiffs on those days calling the people together, to apprize them of the festivals in the month then beginning. Why is a calendar of the year called an almanack? Because of its derivation from the Arabic, Almanack, to count. Verstegan makes the word of German origin, Atmonat; and says that our Saxon ancestors were in the practice of carving the annual courses of the moon upon a small piece of wood, which they called Almonaught, (al-moon-heed). Why are the days of the week called by their present names? Because our Saxon ancestors dedicated them respectively to their gods: thus, Sunday from SunnanDaeg, or sun's-day, because it was dedicated to the worship of the sun; Monday from Monan-Dseg, to the moon; Tuesday from Tuisco, the most ancient god of the Germans; Wednesday, a contraction of Wodin's or Odin's day; Thursday from Thor's Dseg, or the Thunderer's day, to the worship of Thor, the bravest of the sons of Odin; Friday, from Friga, the wife of Odin; and Saturday, from Seater-Daeg, from the idol Beaten Why are two weeks called a fortnight? Because of its contraction from the Saxon for fourteen nights; from the custom of the ancient northern nations to count by nights; thus we say, this day seven, or se'night, for a week. Why was the eve or day before a solemn feast called a vigil? Because the primitive Christians were wont to watch, (vigilare, Latin) fast and prayin their churches. Why had the monks a Floral calendar? Because they had for each day in the year, a flower dedicated to a particular saint, on account of its flowering about the saint's festiva...