Looking through my Facebook memories today, the 5 December seems to have been somewhat eventful! Six years ago we had lots of snow. Seven years ago we bought a vacuum cleaner and when we opened the box it had all the accessories but no vacuum cleaner! Nine years ago Barnet Boy had a three hour delayed flight into London Stansted because of snow and then his car broke down on the motorway! Last year (2020) was less eventful, but we were in a COVID Lockdown.
What else is Fifth of December significant for?
Five Facts You Didn’t Know about Fifth of December
Appointment of Inquisitors
It is 1484 and Pope Innocent VIII gets out the wrong side of bed and issues a papal bull that appoints two inquisitors to root out supposed witchcraft in Germany – cripes!
Going, Going, Gone!
Move on to 1766 and James Christie, the founder of Christie’s Auction House, holds his first sale. In 2015 Christie’s had total sales of £4.8 billion ($7.4 billion). I wonder if they ever drop an antique (note to self to look that up).
There’s Gold In Them Thar Hills
Now we are in 1848 and, in a message to the US Congress, President James K Polk confirms that large amounts of gold have been discovered in California. Cue the California gold rush! I found this on YouTube which is quite fun.
E=mc2
Yep Albert Einstein. It is 1932 and our Albert is granted an American visa. One of his quotes that I rather like is Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. There was also a rather catchy song about him produced by Landscape in 1981. I give you ‘Einstein A Go Go’ …
Now where was I, oh yes fact number 5 about the Fifth of December.
Pea-Souper And Then Some!
It is 1952 and a cold fog combines with air pollution and descends on London killing 12,000 people by the time it was done. ‘The Great Smog‘ (also known as ‘The Big Smoke) lasted for five days before it dispersed. It was the worse air pollution event in the history of the United Kingdom.
Now did I miss anything?
Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
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Thank you for reading!
Wow, a lot has happened over the years on this date! I didn’t know a thing about the Great Smog until I watched ‘The Crown’ on Netflix. Interesting post, Dorothy.
That was very interesting, Dorothy. Italians may be smarter than Americans if they can keep big government from taking over and running their lives.
Thanks Linda, I enjoy looking back down the years for interesting facts and then exploring them.
Italy has a very complicated history of fascism and dictatorship that contributed to the debates about the referendum. Hopefully the government will take more notice of what people are saying – we can live in hope.
There has certainly been a lot of interesting things happen on this date! I can only imagine the panic of The Great Smog – how dreadful! Thanks for sharing.
Yes, I was in London a few years ago in really thick fog, what we call a ‘pea souper’. It made me think of those times when the air would have been suffocating!
Lots of things happened on 5th of December. I was also checking my recent memories yesterday. And it was 2 contradictory ones. Last year I was in lockdown and the year before I was traveling to Bucharest.
Hi Eri, yes it is hard to get your head around the difference pre-Covid and now we have so many restrictions isn’t it? I like the memories function on Facebook – though the sad ones bring a lump to the throat I have to say.