amyasleigh
Abominable Snowman
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2009
- Messages
- 813
This post prompted by a recent exchange on another message board. I had for a long time cherished a tale involving England’s switching in 1752, from the Julian calendar, to the Gregorian calendar which had long obtained in most of Europe. With the two calendars being eleven days out of synch, the adjustment was made by, in 1752, September 2nd being followed immediately by September 14th. Supposedly, many among the less sophisticated citizenry felt aggrieved at this measure, which they viewed as arbitrarily shortening their personal lifetimes by eleven days: whence, protest marches and riots on the theme of “Give Us Back Our Eleven Days !”
Per info exchanged lately as described above, it appears that this thing may be a two-and-a-half-centuries-old urban legend. There are indications that it basically came from a painting, satirising the issue, by Hogarth – including a “Give Us Back...” banner; and from some throwaway comments by Lord Chesterfield, who was the chief initiator of the Calendar Reform Act which led to the “lost” eleven days. The protests-and-riots are stated never to have happened in reality – the tale comes from misapprehensions about the stuff from Hogarth and Chesterfield, which was part of vehement political dispute, and electioneering, at the time. The only back-up I currently have for the aforesaid, is the Wikipedia article on the episode; as we all know, something’s being stated on Wiki is not proof positive that it’s right. Any views / info pro or con the “Give Us Back...” story, would be appreciated.
I first heard the stuff about agitation over this issue by the mob, from teachers in my schooldays: that was fifty-odd years ago, and I don’t remember whether this was purveyed in formal history lessons, or just informally “in passing”. For sure, the people who taught me were very far from omniscient...
I’ve just always loved the idea of people getting angry about having their lives shortened by x days, by governmental fiat – it seemed a beautiful illustration of humans’ strong tendency to be totally convinced, with the utmost seriousness, of completely bonkers things (and compared to many instances of this tendency, a pretty harmless one). It rather looks, however, as though it’s too nice an example of human barminess, to be true.
Per info exchanged lately as described above, it appears that this thing may be a two-and-a-half-centuries-old urban legend. There are indications that it basically came from a painting, satirising the issue, by Hogarth – including a “Give Us Back...” banner; and from some throwaway comments by Lord Chesterfield, who was the chief initiator of the Calendar Reform Act which led to the “lost” eleven days. The protests-and-riots are stated never to have happened in reality – the tale comes from misapprehensions about the stuff from Hogarth and Chesterfield, which was part of vehement political dispute, and electioneering, at the time. The only back-up I currently have for the aforesaid, is the Wikipedia article on the episode; as we all know, something’s being stated on Wiki is not proof positive that it’s right. Any views / info pro or con the “Give Us Back...” story, would be appreciated.
I first heard the stuff about agitation over this issue by the mob, from teachers in my schooldays: that was fifty-odd years ago, and I don’t remember whether this was purveyed in formal history lessons, or just informally “in passing”. For sure, the people who taught me were very far from omniscient...
I’ve just always loved the idea of people getting angry about having their lives shortened by x days, by governmental fiat – it seemed a beautiful illustration of humans’ strong tendency to be totally convinced, with the utmost seriousness, of completely bonkers things (and compared to many instances of this tendency, a pretty harmless one). It rather looks, however, as though it’s too nice an example of human barminess, to be true.