today’s holiday: Naadam

Naadam

This Mongolian festival, sometimes spelled Nadaam, spotlights three major sports events. Its history goes back to the 13th century; today, it is held from July 11-13 in provinces throughout the country. The fairs bring together the nomadic people, who pitch a city of yurts or gers (felt tents). Wrestling is usually the first event, the second sport is archery, and the last of the traditional sporting events is horse racing. When night falls, a bowed stringed instrument called a matouqin is played, and people sit by their yurts talking, dancing, and drinking aromatic butter tea and kumys. More… Discuss

TODAY’S HOLIDAY: GRAND NATIONAL

Grand National

The Grand National is the world-famous steeplechase run at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. It was started in 1839 by William Lynn, owner of the Waterloo Hotel in Liverpool, as a means of attracting hotel patrons. The course is four and one-half miles long and has 16 bush fences, of which 14 are jumped twice. The race is limited now to 40 starters; horses have to qualify by winning three other set races in England, although any horse that wins the Maryland Hunt Cup is automatically eligible to run. Only men could ride originally, but today women are eligible as well. More… Discuss

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TODAY’S HOLIDAY: SHAHI DURBAR

Shahi Durbar

This annual fair takes place in the town of Sibi in theBaluchistan Province of Pakistan. The event goes back to the 15th century, when it centered around a gathering of tribal elders (durbar means “royal gathering”), and it is still an occasion for local politicians to speechify and debate each other. But it also features an agricultural fair, a handicraft market, and numerous sporting events, including horse racing, tent pegging, wrestling, and cockfighting. It represents a unique opportunity to observe the traditional customs and costumes of the tribal people of Baluchistan. More… Discuss

 

Today’s Birthday: BERYL MARKHAM (1902)

Beryl Markham (1902)

A British-born Kenyan aviatrix, adventurer, racehorse trainer, and writer, Markham is best remembered for her historic east-to-west solo flight across the North Atlantic in 1936 and for her 1942 memoir West with the Night, which chronicles her many adventures. The book had only modest success at first and soon went out of print, but it was rediscovered and reissued in 1983 and is now considered one of the best adventure books ever written. What controversy arose regarding its authorship? More… Discuss