Danbury Library Blog

This year's First Night celebration happens to fall on a Blue Moon--the twentieth century definition of a blue moon being the second full moon in a calendar month. The 19th and early 20th century Maine Farmer's Almanc defined a blue moon as the third full moon in a quarter. Both defintions allude to a blue moon as a rare occurrence.

Earlier definitions of a blue moon refer to the moon actually having a blue color caused by climatological events. The eruption of Krakatowa in 1883 gave the moon a blue hue for nearly two years.

Enjoy the Blue Moon this New Year's Eve (we'll go with the modern definition) and Danbury's First Night activities.
Happy New Year!

Posted by Mary at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the December 22, 1864 edition of the Danbury Times there is a front page letter entitled "Getting Home." It is from a soldier in the Union Army named H.P. Manton. He describes his furlough from the army and his journey back to Danbury. He describes the first part of the journey which involved a sea voyage on a ship named the Arago. It was not an easy voyage for him and he is relieved when he reaches New York City. He describes himself as reaching land "with a full beard and empty haversack." He then takes a rail journey to Danbury. While stopping at Norwalk he says that "things began to look more natural, and I breathed freer." Then when he reaches Danbury he "got out on the platform, and found myself face to face with the beauteous being who has shed a ray of light across my gloomy pathway, and will continue to shed through all time to come, if not sooner discharged.

In the meantime she had recognized me, and with a wild, wild cry, pitched against my enlisted bosom. Hi Manton! Mary Ann! And far above the worldly din, arose two sighs, piercing the outer darkness, and travelling on their din.

Oh dear yea.
Cheerfully Yours H. P. Manton
Danbury Dec. 1864"

H.P. Manton was the pseudonym for Danbury's own James Montgomery Bailey!

Posted by John O'Donnell at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is Winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year. Winter solstice always falls between December 21 and 23 every year, and we can now look forward to our days becoming longer each day. The actual solstice event only lasts for a moment - it's the moment when the sun is the greatest distance away from the equatorial plane and shines directly over the northern hemisphere, but many cultures celebrate the entire day as the beginning of winter. So here I am, wishing you a happy winter solstice, a happy, safe winter, and while I'm at it, I hope you've all been having a happy, healthy, cheery holiday season and may it continue through to the new year and beyond!

Posted by Merry at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Film buffs generally agree more great films were released in 1939 than any other year. It's hard to believe Gone with the Wind is 70 years old--every few years I watch it again and am always amazed at how well-written, well-acted and quotable this movie is. Other great films of '39 include John Ford's classic western Stagecoach, Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with Jimmy Stewart, Only Angels Have Wings with Cary Grant and Jean Arthur and The Hunchback of Notre Dame--to name just a few. The great character actor, Thomas Mitchell, best known for his role as Scarlett O'Hara's father in Gone with the Wind also appeared in all the other movies mentioned. He was also the first actor to win the big three: Oscar, Tony and Emmy.

Posted by Mary at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Christmas season is a time for peace on earth and goodwill toward men as the Bible tells us. But how many concrete examples of this can we point to. One of the finest examples of this spirit is the Christmas Truce which took place during the first Christmas of World War One in December 1914. It was not a planned event but a spontaneous reaction to the grimness that German, British, French and Belgian soldiers were facing. The men at the front were getting used to life in the trenches and it was not a pleasant experience. So on Christmas Eve and Day the enemies came out of their trenches and exchanged gifts, sang songs and played against one another in soccer matches. The high command on both sides frowned on this Christmas Truce but it still was successful. The land between the trenches, commonly referred to as No-man's land, became a scene of free haircuts, juggling and other forms of entertainment. The Truce lasted all Christmas Day and then the war slowly resumed. Similar truces to this one never took place again during the war. These soldiers truly understood goodwill, peace, love and Christmas cheer.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the best things about living in Fairfield County is its proximity to New York City. With the holidays in full force, visitors come from all over the world to visit New York City to do a little shopping and to see the sights. While most of us can't afford the fashion on Fifth Avenue, there are still great places to visit and things to do, for free! For example, you can visit New York's famous Central Park or see the tree in Rockefeller Center, which will stay lit until January 7, 2010. (This year, the tree came from Easton, Connecticut!) For more great events to check out in New York City for free, see NYCGO.com/free. And for those who can't make it into New York City for the holidays, we have a great book in the library about the holiday window displays in NYC, called Through the shopping glass : a century of New York Christmas windows. Check it out! Happy Holidays!

Posted by Merry at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The New Oxford American Dictionary has chosen "unfriend' as the word of the year. Unfriend, of course, comes via Facebook and involves removing someone whom you once added as a 'friend'. Yes, we can be fickle on Facebook. Because unfriend is a verb--it does have a feeling of earlier times ranking up there with "befriend". It would not seem strange to find "unfriend the wastrel' in an eighteenth century novel. Unfriend will probably remain active as opposed to previous words of the year like Y2K and plutoed.

The American Dialect Society has chosen a word of the year since 1991 and has not yet made its choice for this year. The Society is still accepting nominamtions for 2009, feel free to submit yours.

Posted by Mary at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)