Monday, July 20, 2020

International Chess Day



I’m sure you’ve heard of chess, but did you know there’s a whole day dedicated to it? Now you do! A game of strategy and wits, Chess is the thinking man’s game. From Early India to today, Chess is a wonderful game to play anytime, anywhere.

History of International Chess Day

Invented in India in the fifth century, it was named “Chaturanga” and this is likely one of the oldest games of our era. the game then spread to Persia. When the Arabs conquered Persia, chess was taken up by the Muslim world and subsequently spread to Southern Europe. In Europe, chess evolved into roughly its current form in the 15th century. The game was developed extensively in Europe. By the late 15th century, it had survived a series of prohibitions and Christian Church sanctions to almost take the shape of the modern game.

Modern history saw reliable reference works, competitive chess tournaments, and exciting new variations. These factors added to the game’s popularity, further liked by reliable timing mechanisms (first introduced in 1861), effective rules, and charismatic players. Chess remains a highly popular pastime among the general populace. A 2012 survey found that “chess players now make up one of the largest communities in the world: 605 million adults play chess regularly”

On July 20, 1924 at the eighth summer Olympic games in Paris, France, the FIDE (World Chess Federation) was Founded. Thus in 1966, on the same day as the founding of the FIDE, International Chess Day begun. Today there are chess tournaments all over the world. The first modern chess tournament having been held in London in 1851 and won by German Adolf Anderssen

Monday, July 6, 2020

Umbrella Cover Day


Umbrella covers are the little sleeves, slipcovers, cases, sheaths, that come on new umbrellas when you buy them. Made of the same material as the umbrella, they are a tight and attractive bit of packaging, but can sometimes impair the speed of releasing the umbrella in a sudden shower. People are on the fence about whether they are critical bits of umbrella apparel, or a waste of material. It is this very ambiguity that has inspired a museum of Umbrella Covers and a Guinness World Record.


So whether your umbrella was purchased during the onset of a sudden spring shower, or an advanced purchase for a drizzly day, chances are that your umbrella’s cover comes with a bit of history, and has a story to tell. Umbrella Cover Day celebrates the stories behind the cover, and encourages you to hold onto and dig out your umbrella covers from the bottom of drawers, the backs of cupboards and from, unsurprisingly, on your umbrellas, and to celebrate the mundane and everyday things in life. Of course, umbrella covers can have practical uses, too – why not keep your plastic utensils in them, store your plastic bags, pencils, makeup, loose change. Use them to decorate your room – or maybe as ear warmers for your pets.