100 most interesting and fun facts about Tokyo that will change your mind about Japan
Tokyo, the capital of distant and prosperous Japan, stuns tourists literally from the first moments, as soon as the traveler's footsteps on his land. Everything seems to be different here than in other cities: an incredibly complex layout of blocks, and intricate metro lines that are perceived as not connected to each other, and a solid jungle of city communications wires. During rush hours, people seem to merge into one river, and its flows fill the streets, underpasses, public transport. Here you need to always keep your eyes open, because it is very easy to get lost, getting completely different from where you hoped to be.
Tokyo is second in the world in terms of population density. The city of 37 million is not only the political, administrative and financial, but also the industrial and cultural center of the country. Located in the southeastern part of Japan's largest island of Honshu, this ultra-modern metropolis, where life does not stop day or night, is located on the Kanto Plain, in a cozy bay of Tokyo Bay. To truly feel its amazing atmosphere and get acquainted with at least half of the sights, one day or even a week is not enough - you need to live here for several months.
Huge and many-sided Tokyo, the capital of the only empire in the world, and even an island - Japan, cannot be described in a few words or limited to only a couple of epithets, even the most eloquent ones. And all because in this ancient city, modernity and ancient Japanese traditions harmoniously coexist, mutually penetrating each other. The Old City is worth mentioning separately. Having visited its numerous palaces, temples and shrines, it is as if you are plunging into the era of the shoguns, who for a long time were the sole rulers of the Land of the Rising Sun. Art lovers will quench their thirst for beauty in Tokyo's many museums.
1. Beneath Tokyo are five huge cylindrical shafts that will be filled with water in the event of a flood. This will prevent the destruction of the city.
2. There is an anime and manga in Japan called "Saint Young Men" in which Jesus and Buddha live in Tokyo as roommates. They rest on Earth and try to understand Japanese society.
3. When Tokyo officials went to congratulate the oldest man in the city on his 111th birthday in 2010, they found his remains on a bed. He had been dead for 30 years, and his family was taking away his pension, which was still accruing to him.
4. The Allied bombing of Tokyo killed more civilians than the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima combined.
5. During the Tokyo real estate bubble, the Imperial Palace (1.32 square miles) was valued more than all real estate in California.
6. Researchers in Tokyo have developed a mirror that changes a person's facial expression in real time. It gives a smile to the face. The application is intended for use in the bathrooms of the mall. The technology was adopted in the hope that happy shoppers would spend more.
7. The 2020 Olympic Games was held in Tokyo, Japan, as predicted in the 1982 Akira manga.
8. In 2013, a 39-story hotel in Tokyo literally "disappeared". It was demolished without the use of explosives or a special wrecking ball. All 39 floors were dismantled from the inside using a small crane, which gradually folded floor by floor.
9. You can pay a travel agency in Tokyo to send your plush toy on vacation without you.
10. One day, the Japanese government sent cherry tree seedlings to Washington as a gift. After the Second World War, cuttings from these cherry trees were sent back to Japan to restore the Tokyo collection, which was destroyed as a result of American bombing.
11. Tokyo Skytree is the tallest freestanding tower in the world. The height of the building is 634 meters. The tower's final height was chosen solely because of a play on words. The result is "Musashi": "mu" (in old Japanese means the number 6), "sa" (3) and "si" (4). This was the name of the historic district where modern Tokyo is located.
12. A Japanese scientist has created an exact copy of Tokyo. He used oatmeal to create nearby settlements, and bright light to simulate mountains, water sources and other natural features. When a scientist placed a living slime mold in the center of the mock-up, it created a network reminiscent of the Tokyo rail system as it tried to reach the treat (oatmeal).
13. Japan has almost twice as many 7-Elevens stores as the US. Only in Tokyo there are 2079 stores of this network.
14. There is a store in Tokyo called Whoopi Goldberg.
15. One of the Tokyo skyscrapers informs you with the help of colored lights whether to take an umbrella with you when you go outside.
16. In Tokyo, there is a building built in 1972, consisting of tiny 90-square-foot capsule apartments. If necessary, they can be replaced as Lego pieces.
17. There is a 12-story luxury stationery store in Tokyo. On the 12th floor they serve lettuce grown on the organic indoor farm located on the 11th floor of the same building.
18. Tokyo University is developing a tactile hologram. In other words, they create a hologram that can be touched and felt.
19. Tokyo has an anime-themed Butler cafe. According to the hostess, Japanese women “want to visit cafes where handsome male waiters will treat them like princesses.” This is the only cafe where only foreigners work.
20. 45 of the 51 busiest train stations in the world are in Japan. The busiest Shinjuku station, located in Tokyo, serves approximately 1.2 billion passengers a year.
21. At noon on September 1, 1923, a powerful earthquake occurred in Tokyo. Major fires broke out throughout the city because at the time of the earthquake, people were cooking dinner over an open fire. More than 100,000 people died.
22. Blue "anti-suicide" LED lights have been installed on all train platforms in Tokyo in an attempt to reduce the number of suicides committed here. It is believed that such lanterns have a calming effect. Studies have shown that blue-light stations have reduced suicide rates by 84%.
23. In 1923, a “fire tornado” swept through Tokyo and burned over 38,000 people.
24. Each Tokyo train station has its own unique theme songs.
25. The rock and roll culture of the 50s is still thriving in Tokyo.
26. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a robot arm that wins 100% of the time in a game of rock-paper-scissors. Using a high-speed camera, the robot recognizes within one millisecond the shape that the human hand is about to create, and then selects the winning combination.
27. A cafe has opened in Tokyo where visitors can hug hedgehogs.
28. On March 9-10, 1945, 300 B29 bombers dropped almost 500,000 cylinders of napalm and petroleum products on Tokyo, creating a 40-kilometer firestorm that killed over 100,000 people and maimed another million Japanese. It was the most destructive bombing in human history, including the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
29. Crows in Tokyo often steal steel wires to add to their nests. This often results in power outages when birds build nests on power lines.
30. Tokyo restaurants have more Michelin stars than Parisian establishments. In 2007, the editor of Michelin declared Tokyo to be the "Gastronomic Capital of the World".
31. Cat cafes are popular and quite common in Japan. Here, people pay to interact with cats, since most Tokyo apartments do not allow pets.
32. Only after 3 hours in Tokyo learned that Hiroshima had been bombed.
33. In 2011, the residents of Sendai received an earthquake warning 10-30 seconds before the main seismic waves hit. Residents of Tokyo, the Japanese Earthquake Early Warning System (EEW) notified of the impending wave in 60 seconds. Messages were relayed via mobile phones, TV shows and web pages across the country.
34. The Tokyo metropolitan area has a larger population than Canada.
35. More than 70 unexploded WWII bombs are found in Tokyo every year.
36. Tokyo Tower was built from steel, a third of which was scrap metal (American tanks damaged in the Korean War). Often this building is used in the Japanese kaiju film genre. It also became the site of the culminating "battles" of Godzilla, Mothra and King Kong.
37. Tokyo is by far the richest city on Earth. If it were a city-state, then Tokyo would still be among the ten richest countries in terms of GDP.
38. The former Tokyo governor claimed that the Nanjing Massacre (the mass rape and murder of Chinese civilians by the Japanese military) never happened.
39. Because of Tokyo's location on a tectonic fault, geologists call it the "city waiting for death."
40. There are rumors that a secret underground city is supposedly located under Tokyo, but officials vehemently deny this information.
41. The ancestors of modern Japanese inhabited these lands in the era of stone axes. Previously, this city was a military fortress and was called "Edo".
42. Tokyo became the capital of Japan only in 1868. Prior to that, for 1075 years, the capital was the city of Kyoto.
43. In 1923, a terrible earthquake destroyed almost half of Tokyo and killed more than 90,000 people (earthquake facts).
44. The cost of a square meter of real estate in the business center of the city here reaches 2 million dollars.
45. Due to the high price of real estate in Tokyo, capsule micro-apartments have become widespread.
46. Some establishments here do not allow foreigners. A sign can hang right on the door, which means "foreigners are not served."
47. Despite the relative popularity of tattoos among Japanese youth, a person with a tattoo on exposed areas of the body will most likely not be allowed into any decent restaurant. In Japan, tattoos are strongly associated with the yakuza and the underworld.
48. In order to get rid of traffic jams in Tokyo, a huge number of high-speed highways were built, but the passage on them is paid.
49. The cost of parking here is fabulously high.
50. Fruits and vegetables are expensive here.
51. The most popular area for Tokyo youth looking for entertainment is Harajuku. It is here that you can meet the owners of the strangest outfits and hairstyles.
52. In Tokyo, there is a restaurant "Aragawa", which from year to year occupies one of the first places in the list of the most expensive establishments in the world.
53. An asteroid discovered in 1900 by a Tokyo astronomer was named after this city.
54. The zoo in Tokyo closes for two months each year so that its inhabitants can take a break from visitors.
55. “Cat cafes” are common here - establishments where you can play with these fluffy creatures.
55. They have become popular because most Japanese people love cats, but in most households, the rules forbid keeping pets (cat facts).
56. The air temperature in Tokyo is usually 9-10 degrees higher than outside the city. The reason for this is a huge amount of infrastructure radiating into space, plus 13 million inhabitants, whose bodies also warm the air around.
57. There are about 150 earthquakes in Tokyo every year, but most of them are so weak that people don't even notice them. A similar situation is observed, by the way, in Santiago, the capital of Chile.
58. The capital occupies only 0.6% of the area of Japan, but it provides a third of its total GDP.
59. The GDP of the city of Tokyo alone is higher than the GDP of all of Australia.
60. Twice as many people live in the suburbs of the Japanese capital than in the city itself. In total, more than 35 million people live in and near the city. This is about 60 times more than the population of Montenegro.
61. Based on the area of the city and the population, there are about 4 square meters per inhabitant.
52. Tokyo's ubiquitous vending machines sell everything from chocolates and hamburgers to used women's underwear.
53. The dog Hachiko, famous all over the world due to his devotion, was waiting for his master right here, at Tokyo's Shibuya station, until his death.
54. In major Japanese cities, many homeowners ban pets, which is why "cat cafes" have appeared in Tokyo - for a low fee, visitors can choose a cat and pet it while drinking lemonade or tea.
55. The Tokyo subway system is the world's largest in terms of ridership, with 3.2 billion people a year. An interesting fact is that there is even a special position here - osiya, or pushers, whose duties include pushing passengers into overcrowded cars.
56. Public transport in Tokyo is the most reliable, affordable and fastest way to get around. But still, he's not cheap.
57. The asteroid Tokyo, discovered in this city in 1900, was named after the city. This is an irregularly shaped celestial body with a diameter of approximately 81 kilometers.
58. Tokyo Ueno Zoo is Japan's oldest zoo with over 2,600 pets.
59. If you say at least a couple of phrases to the Japanese in Tokyo in their language, they will be very happy, because they believe that foreigners simply cannot learn Japanese because of its phenomenal complexity.
60. The population density in Tokyo is one of the highest among cities in the world, and there are only 4 square meters per person. In total, more than 35,000,000 people live in the Tokyo agglomeration.
61. There are a lot of single people in Tokyo who have never been in any kind of relationship with the opposite sex. Because of this, the suicide rate is extremely high.
62. If Tokyo were a separate country, it would be 15th place in the world in terms of GDP.
63. Tokyo is the safest metropolis in the world. Tokyo is so safe that young children use public transport on their own.
64. Tokyo's Shinjuku-Ni-Cheme area has the largest concentration of gay bars in the world.
65. Dressing up as your favorite manga or anime character and organizing a performance in Tokyo is a completely normal pastime.
66. Since the "Land of the Rising Sun" is located in a seismically active zone, earthquakes often occur here. In 1923, a powerful earthquake destroyed about half of Tokyo's infrastructure, killing more than 90,000 people in the process.
67. In the capital, real estate costs fabulous money. For 1 m 2 in the business center of Tokyo, the buyer will have to pay about $ 2 million!
68. Due to the high cost of housing, there are many micro-apartments in Tokyo. Their area varies within 10 m².
69. Parking in the city center for 1 hour is approximately $15.
70. Curiously, Harajuko is predominantly populated by young people. For this reason, in this region you can see many people with original hairstyles and outfits.
71. An interesting fact is that in the capital, rail transport is the most common type of public transport.
72. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is one of the three largest stock exchanges in the world.
73. Unlike some other megacities like Kuala Lumpur or Manila, Tokyo can be called a safe city with a clear conscience. True, foreigners are not welcome here everywhere. Some establishments here, as in the Korean capital of Seoul, put up a sign stating that "foreigners are not served."
74. Formally, Tokyo ceased to exist as a city in 1943 and was no longer displayed on maps. Officially, Tokyo refers to the 62 administrative divisions that make up the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
75. Moreover, the 23 special districts included in it, which made up Tokyo until 1943, are now equated in status with individual cities that have their own mayor and their own city council.
76. An indicator of the exceptional transparency of the air in Tokyo - if from it you can see the sacred Mount Fuji located 100 kilometers from it - the national symbol of Japan. But this happens very rarely.
77. Fujiyama, in fact, is not a mountain, but a volcano, although it is listed as weakly active. Its last eruption occurred in 1707. Then Edo was covered with a cloud of volcanic ash.
78. Tokyo is one of the few capitals in the world located in a seismically active zone. And at the same time - the only one, because the world's largest economy is located here.
79. The earth on which it stands is shaken by earthquakes of various strengths about 150 times a year.
80. The Tokyo subway is also the largest in the world in terms of passenger traffic: more than 8.5 million passengers a day. Of these, 3 million are at Shinjuku Station alone, the busiest transport hub in the world.
81. However, trains must still leave stations without delay. That is why passengers are helped by special employees - osiya ("pushers"): they push them into the cars and make sure that the doors do not jam anyone's luggage.
82. One of the main attractions of Tokyo is Ginza, the main street of Tokyo's administrative center and the main shopping street. Walking on it is a kind of ritual. The whole street is one continuous showcase of shops located on it.
83. Buying here is not available to everyone, but it is prestigious. And also such a purchase means that you belong to the middle class - the basis of the entire Japanese economy.
84. From an architectural point of view, Tokyo is a gray and featureless city, devoid of frills and sights.
85. After World War II, mass construction began in the rapidly developing city, and it was guided by only three principles: pragmatism, expediency, and economy.
86. Tokyo can be amaze with an abundance of gray and inexpressive streets, many of which do not even have a name.
87. In Tokyo, as in other major cities in Japan, it is forbidden to keep any animals at home - the unanimous point of view of Japanese homeowners.
88. The onset of cherry blossom season, which is an important part of spring in Japan, marks the end of harsh winters. Cherry blossoms can be enjoyed for only two weeks during the whole year.
89. With a noodle shop and a beer garden on top, Takao-san is the world's most visited mountain on the western edge of Tokyo.
90. Tokyo Tower, modeled after the Eiffel Tower, is repainted with approximately 7,500 gallons of paint every 5 years.
91. Tokyo's Ritz Carlton has the most expensive room in the city, costing as much as $25,000.
92. The longest concert in Tokyo was the concert of the American band Guns N'Roses, which lasted three hours and thirty-seven minutes.
93. No matter how old people in Japan are, the Komagata Dozeu restaurant managed to survive the earthquakes and bombings, and managed to continue operating on the same piece of land for six generations (150 years).
94. Tokyo Skytree became the tallest tower in 2010. The official name was determined by a voting system. The current name received 30% of the votes and was announced on June 10, 2008 as "Tokyo Skytree".
95. Shinjuku Station has 36 platforms, including an underground entrance, an overhead entrance, and many corridors. Moreover, there are more than 200 different exits.
96. Tokyo in translation means the eastern capital. There are approximately 150 earthquakes in Tokyo every year.
97. In Japan, growing plants is an art.
98. The new generation of Japanese is not as small as Europeans think.
99. The Japanese tend to believe that all foreign countries, especially America, are dangerous to visit.
100. You can buy batteries, beer, wine, condoms, cigarettes, comics, hot dogs, light bulbs, and used women's underwear from Tokyo's vending machines.
Japan is an ancient country, with an extremely interesting history and traditions. Japan is also very closed to foreigners, which is why so many tourists are interested in these isolated islands. The modern Japanese way of life and culture are quite different from the USA and Europe. Read on for interesting things about Japan that you probably didn't know.
There are no people in Japan to collect garbage. The streets of Japan are extremely clean, even in Tokyo, which is the capital and a massive megalopolis, all the streets are clean and have no garbage. But how is this possible without garbage? It all comes down to their mentality. The Japanese rarely leave garbage on the streets. Also, volunteers, both young and old, clean the streets simply because they want to live in a clean city. If an employer sees that you have previously worked as a volunteer street cleaner, you will be seen as a responsible person and will probably hire you much faster.
In Japan, 98.5% of the population is Japanese. Today's world is becoming more and more international due to the mixing of cultures. But this is not the case in Japan, because of the extremely difficult visas and cultural mentality, it is a challenge for migrants to stay in Japan. On the one hand, it protects this unique and ancient culture with ancient traditions, but, on the other hand, it is closed to the outside world and migrants.
25% of Japan's population is over 65 years old. Japan is now facing terrible demographic problems. Because it is so difficult to afford the needs of children, such as schools, medicine, extracurricular activities, many Japanese simply do not have children. It has been like this for many years, and now over 25% of the population is over 65 years old. Immigrants are the solution to this problem, they do not like to integrate and want to have children.
In Japan you are allowed to sleep at work. You've probably heard about how long the days of service in Japan are. Officially, the schedule is 8 hours a day as in most parts of the world, but due to their mentality, any employee wants to stay over the schedule to show that he is willing to work. In Japan, if you sleep during the work day, it is a sign that you work extremely hard. Even if Japanese companies do the same job as Americans or Europeans, workers postpone their work until evening to stay at work and show a desire to work.
1.Giving everyone a change
2.Buses
3.Opera
4.Rice paddy
5.Tree in Japan
6.Telephone of the wind
7.Semi-transparent umbrellas
8.Just 2 days
9.Train seats in Japan
10.Turtle way
11.Toilets be like
12.Lumber production
13.Hospital
14.Arrange
15.Waiting at station
16.Gums
17.The oldest fish
18.Smooth train
19.Train stop
20.Bonsai tree
21.Trains in Japan
22.Private restaurant
23.Help in Japan
24.Japan under water
25.Japanese movie
26.Package from Japan
27.Relaxation drink
28.Rain storm
29.Evolution
30.Faces
31.Two friends
32.Food at hospital
33.Cleaning together
34.Cool option
35.Floating solar power plant
36.Economy class
37.Vending machine
38.Isolated village
39.KFC
40.Pets button
41.Eye drops
42.Solar arc
43.Arch bridge
44.System for bags
45.Hiroshima
46.Fish socks
47.KFC in Japan
48.Subway in Japan
49.Suit store
50.Producing woods
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving today. Usually an occasion to reunite with family or friends, this year the holiday is affected by the sanitary measures required by the authorities in an attempt to stop the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bemorepanda is here to surprise you.
Here are some things you may not know about this Canadian holiday.
1. The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Canada in 1578, when the English sailor Martin Frobisher arrived on Baffin Island with his crew. They celebrated with a dinner the fact that they arrived safely at their destination.
2. From 1921 to 1930, Thanksgiving Day was combined with Armistice Day (now Remembrance Day), celebrated on November 11th. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October 1931, except in 1935, when there was a conflict between this holiday and the date of the general election.
3. In 1957, Thanksgiving became a national holiday. The Canadian parliament declared Monday the second of October as a day off to thank "for the abundant harvest with which Canada has been blessed."
4. Although federally recognized, Thanksgiving Day in Canada is not a day off in Prince Edward, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
5. Why is turkey eaten on this day? Nobody knows for sure. There are many theories about how the turkey became the predominant meal on Thanksgiving, including the fact that this bird could be easily found and is large enough to feed a family.
6. 20.2 million turkeys are sold annually in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. The data is from 2018. A little over 390 million dollars are the annual revenues made by farms that grow turkeys.
7. On Thanksgiving Day 2019, 2.5 million whole turkeys were bought by Canadians, the equivalent of 39% of sales during the year, according to the Turkey Growers Association.
8. But Thanksgiving is not the day to eat the most turkey. At Christmas 2019, 2.7 million turkeys were bought by Canadians, equivalent to 42% of annual sales.
9. 64.3% of all cranberries consumed in Canada come from Quebec and 38.9% of apples consumed come from Ontario.
10. The United States celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. One possible explanation is that the harvest season is earlier in Canada, due to the colder climate than in the United States.
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20 times when people found such outlandish things at flea markets that they could not pass by
If you are one of those people who avoids flea markets and second-hand shops, then you will never understand the excitement with which people are looking for "treasures" in these stores. And there, believe me, there are a lot of them! After all, what one person does not need can be a thing that another person desperately needs, and this is what makes finds from thrift stores so valuable.
“I am an electrician and I constantly save old fixtures by taking them out of the trash heap or buying them for next to nothing at thrift stores. I already have a whole collection in my basement, and this octopus will also replenish it ”
“I found this vintage Edwardian wedding dress at a local thrift store and couldn't leave it there. It cost only 7 dollars and, besides, I have a wedding soon, so I think I was very lucky "
"I found these photos from the premiere of Good Will Hunting at an antique store in Seattle."
"For years I was tempted by miniature chairs in thrift stores, and one day I finally bought nine of them."
"I went to a thrift store and found this duck there, not even suspecting that it was an incense burner."
"I'm just in love with these gold earrings with an angel and a devil, which I was lucky to snatch at a flea market."
"This is one of the sweetest budget purchases I've made in a thrift store to date."
"A magical find at today's garage sale"
“As soon as I saw this chair, I remembered about my cat, August, and for good reason - he immediately appreciated it”
"I fell in love with them and just couldn't pass by!"
"I found this naughty raver outfit at a garage sale and I can't wait to get people to wear it!"
"I got this beauty for just 5 bucks."
"A wicker miracle that both my cats liked"
"I gladly paid $ 25 for this BEAUTY!"
“I found this brass fly ashtray at a thrift store in Wisconsin. I'm going to fill it with pretty pebbles that I found in our backyard. "
"I'm just wildly delighted with my recent find."
"I went to a flea market for things that I really needed ... and returned with a frog-shaped mirror for $ 2."
"A few months ago, I bought this incredible handbag for women at auction."
"This is possibly the coolest thing I've ever found in a thrift store!"
On Valentine's Day, most people's thoughts are focused on romance, love objects and gifts. But it is always useful to abstract a little from the amorous euphoria and learn something new and unfamiliar about Valentine's Day. Therefore, on February 14, Bemorepanda offers the top 100 most interesting facts about this holiday.
1. It is customary to celebrate Valentine's Day all over the world on 14 February.
2. This holiday was named in honor of the Martyr Valentine.
3. During the reign of the Roman emperor, Claudius was the priest Valentine.
4. Since 1777, this day has been widely celebrated in the United States.
5. Since the 13th century, this day has been widely celebrated in Western Europe.
6. This holiday is secular in Russia.
7. On Valentine's Day, more than 50 million roses are sold worldwide.
8. On this day, more than 9 million people in the world buy gifts for their pets.
9. Sweets and chocolates are considered the most popular gifts on this day.
10. February 14 became a men's holiday in Japan.
11. In Saudi Arabia and Iran, it is forbidden to celebrate this holiday.
12. The tradition of celebrating this holiday originates from middle England.
13. Postcards are the second most popular after Christmas cards.
14.On February 14, 1929, Al Capone's rival enemies were shot.
15. Women spend on gifts this day half as much as men.
16. Condom sales are high on this day.
17. Duke Charles of Orleans created the first Valentine in 1415.
18. Pigeons are officially considered a symbol of Valentine's Day.
19. Computer Engineer's Day is also celebrated on February 14th.
20. Sales of contraceptives increase by 25% on this day.
21. 2001 was the record for the highest number of marriages.
22. The Day of Mental Health is celebrated by the Germans on this day.
23. More than 75% of suicides on this day are attributed to unhappy love.
24. Once upon a time, lovers exchanged postcards decorated with gold on this day.
25. This day is called sweet in Italy.
26. On February 14, Finland celebrates Women's Day.
27. In France, for the first time, a tradition arose to give poetry on this day.
28. In England, gifts are also given to pets on this day.
29. Handmade gifts are especially appreciated on this day.
30. On February 14 Pope Gelasius declared Valentine's Day around 498 BC.
31. More than 53% of women abandon their men if they come to them without gifts.
32. Richard Cadbury in 1868 presented the first box of chocolate on this day.
33. On this holiday 15% of women give flowers to themselves.
34. About 1 billion cards are sent on this day every year.
35.85% of all valentines are bought by women.
36.39% of all sweets are received by children on this day.
37. In Japan it is customary to give sweets, linen and jewelry on this day.
38. The sale of pregnancy tests in pharmacies is increasing on this day.
39. Flowers presented on this day have different meanings.
40. This day was called "Bird's wedding" in the Middle Ages.
41. In 2011, the world's largest chocolate bar was made in Switzerland, designed specifically for this holiday.
42. The first Valentine's card in the world is kept in the British Museum.
43. In Germany, it is customary to plant onions in a pot on this day with the written name of a loved one. 44. Italian navigator James Cook died in Hawaii in 1779.
45. USA got Texas on this day in 1848.
46.3 Oregon became the 33rd US state in 1859.
47. A third of the seats in the local Diet were won by Ukrainians in the elections in Galicia in 1914.
48. Soviet Russia in 1918 switched to the Gregorian calendar.
49. One of the first computers in 1946 was presented on this day.
50. The XX Congress of the CPSU opened in Moscow in 1956.
51. Into this day, rock and roll music was banned in Iran in 1958.
52. The automatic station "Luna-20" was launched to the Moon in 1972.
53. In Dublin in 1981, 48 people died on this day in a fire.
54. Elton John married Renate Blauel on this day in 1984.
55. The “Declaration on the Principles of Cooperation” was adopted in Minsk in 1992.
56. Russia and Ukraine established diplomatic relations in 1992.
57. The Fundamentals of Ukrainian Legislation on Culture were approved on 14 February 1992.
58. In 1993 Hungary, Poland and Ukraine signed an agreement on cooperation between peoples.
59. On this day in 1998, the wedding of movie star Sharon Stone and the editor of the San Francisco Examiner newspaper Phil Bronstein took place.
60. Dolly the cloned sheep died in 2003.
61. In 2004, 28 people were killed in the Moscow Transvaal Park.
62. Unmarried English girls take this holiday very seriously and responsibly.
63. Annually, about 1000 cards are sent to Juliet.
64. The oldest love poem was written in 3500 BC.
65. The favorite flower of the Goddess of Love was a red rose.
66. Wooden spoons with hearts are customary to give on February 14 in Wales.
67. Traditionally in America, pilgrims sent a variety of sweets as gifts.
68. Two times less money than men spend on gifts for women.
69. The month of pregnancy tests is the month of March.
70. Flower shops earn colossal sums on this day.
71. Heart-shaped candies were the first gifts on this day.
72. Saint Valentine was the patron saint of the mentally ill.
73. In the 15th century, the first valentines appeared in France.
74. The Roman God of love Cupid is the symbol of this holiday.
75. Since the beginning of the 90s of the last century, this holiday has been celebrated on the territory of Russia.
76. It is customary to give hearts from any materials on this day.
77. In England, February 14 is considered the beginning of the mating season for birds.
78. Once upon a time in the United States, one holiday card cost as much as $ 10.
79. Germans decorate psychiatric hospitals with bright ribbons on this day.
80. It is customary to give jewelry on this day in France.
81. Poles on this day visit the relics of St. Valentine.
82. It is customary to give dried white flowers on this day in Denmark.
83. Since the 13th century, this holiday has been celebrated in Western Europe.
84.Since the 1930s, this holiday has been celebrated in Japan.
85. All females are given hearts in Finland.
86. Diamonds are considered the best gift for February 14th.
87. Only 75% of men buy flowers on this day.
88. The origin of this holiday is based on the legend of Saint Valentine.
89. On this day, the feast of fertility was once celebrated.
90. Passionate Spaniards send love letters on this day with carrier pigeons.
91. 6 days before the holiday 50% of all valentines are bought.
92. Valentine is the second most popular among all gifts.
93. A large number of wedding ceremonies take place on this day.
94. Durex is increasing its sales by 30% that day.
95. The symbol of Valentine's Day is a red heart.
96. About 189 million roses are sold in America on this day.
97. After Christmas, this holiday has the second largest number of cards sold.
98. In Mexico City in 2010, the record was set for the most massive kiss in the world.
99. The first time in 1936 the Japanese got acquainted with this holiday.
100. In the Middle Ages, doves were often depicted on valentines.
Many would like to be part of the British royal family. The attention of the whole world, many servants, jewelry, palaces and other joys of aristocrats - isn't it a fairy tale? However, everyone forgets that being in the public eye of millions of people and constantly maintaining a brand can be incredibly difficult. The life of royals is subject to regulations and is filled with sometimes really strange requirements that they must certainly fulfill.
The British royal family is called one of the main attractions of Great Britain. The British are proud of their monarchy. They celebrate the Queen's Birthday along with other holidays. They follow with interest the relationship in the royal family. But not all Englishmen know about the origin of the dynasty, about the real names of its members and about other interesting facts.
The name of the ruling dynasty in Great Britain is Windsor. But until 1917 it was called Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which indicates its connection with the German rulers. During World War I, King George V decided to change the name of the dynasty in order to give up the German titles. He chose the surname Windsor after Windsor Castle, one of the royal residences. This surname became official to all members of the royal family. And after the wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten, the surname began to sound Mountbatten-Windsor.
Interestingly, none of the members of the royal family is required to use the surname. And when they go to school, serve or work, they can take a different surname. For example, Princes William and Harry were known in the army as Wales. And the two grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth from Princess Anne have their father's surname - Phillips.
Bemorepanda collected some more interesting facts about the royal family.
1. Princess Diana was supposed to play the main role in the 2nd part of "The Bodyguard" with Kevin Costner. A kissing scene was planned, but the film itself never came out due to the tragic death of Lady Dee in 1997 in a car accident in Paris. In the story, a romantic relationship between the protagonists begins when a bodyguard is tasked with protecting the princess from the paparazzi.
2. On their travels, Elizabeth II and her son Charles are accompanied by a doctor of the British Royal Navy, who must have a supply of their blood with him. This measure is necessary for an emergency transfusion in case of an emergency.
3. Shellfish, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and garlic are banned in Buckingham Palace, as sea creatures are allergenic and garlic has an unpleasant odor. However, this rule is now adhered to only by the queen.
4. Six ravens (and one spare) must always dwell in the Tower of London. According to one of the versions, this rule is observed, since the prediction of the royal court astrologer-monk Charles II (1630-1685) says: "If the crows leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall." After the famous fire of 1666, almost all the birds were exterminated, but thanks to the prophecy of the ravens, they were left in the care of the crown. They are considered part of the royal family, they have servants and a special raven keeper who is chosen from 38 members of the Tower's ceremonial Yeomen guard ("beefeaters"). In addition, the birds are officially enlisted in the ranks of the royal army.
5. Long before becoming part of the royal family, Kate Middleton lived with her family in Amman, Jordan. The father of the future Duchess, Michael Middleton, worked as a manager for British Airways and ended up in the Middle East on duty. Then Kate was 2 years old, but she already went to kindergarten and, in addition to English, studied Arabic. The Middletons have lived in Jordan for almost 3 years.
6. During the opening of the new session of Parliament, the Queen must take a hostage - one of the Members of Parliament, who will be guarded by the staff of Buckingham Palace throughout the ceremony. This tradition appeared due to the fact that earlier monarchs and parliament, to put it mildly, did not get along. Now everything is peaceful, but no one is going to change anything.
7. Queen Elizabeth II, then 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth, married Prince Philip on 20 November 1947 in a coupon-purchased wedding dress. She deliberately did not take advantage of her opportunities, since in the post-war period the whole country was slowly getting out of the ruins.
8. The crown of Elizabeth II is nothing more than the diadem of King George IV, created in 1820 at the request of the king himself. It is set with 1,333 diamonds for a total of 320 carats (64 g), including a 4-carat yellow diamond. There are 2 strands of pearls along the base. Initially, the upper thread had 86 pearls and the lower one - 94, but in 1902 the number of pearls was changed to 81 and 88.
9. To avoid embarrassment in windy weather, all the hem of the skirts of Queen Elizabeth II are weighed down by small loads
10. Initially, princes William and Harry were supposed to be called Arthur and Albert, as their father Charles wanted, but Lady Diana insisted on William and Harry, although Arthur and Albert are the middle names of the princes.
11. Queen Elizabeth II is a godmother for 30 crowned godchildren and this is not the limit.
12. Kate Middleton is a relative of George Washington.
13. At Christmas in the royal family, it is customary to give funny gifts. For example, Meghan Markle gave the Queen a toy singing hamster. But besides the fun, the royal couple - Elizabeth II and Prince Philip - must remember their duty. They send about 750 Christmas cards to heads of state, top politicians, Commonwealth leaders and family members.
14. Before and after Christmas dinner, all members of the royal family must weigh themselves. This long tradition was introduced by King Edward VII around 1900. He was very worried that someone would go away hungry after a sumptuous reception.
15. The Queen has the right to dissolve the current parliament both in Britain and in Australia and Canada.
16. Princess Diana gave her son, Prince William, an incredible 13th birthday surprise. Since the boy was in love with supermodel Cindy Crawford, she invited her to a festive tea party.
17. The most unusual titles that Elizabeth II bears are Duke of Lancanster and Duke of Normandy.
18. Pearl necklace of three strands almost always adorns the queen's neck - this is a visiting card of her style. When Elizabeth was 10 years old, she received such a necklace as a gift from her grandfather George V, and it became her favorite piece of jewelry.
A little later, Queen Mary, Elizabeth's grandmother, gave her pearl earrings. To this day, they, complete with a necklace, form part of the image of a modern monarch.
19. Since ancient times, monarchs from different countries have adopted a throne name during their time in power, which is different from that which was given to them at birth. In Britain, this tradition was also maintained. So, Queen Victoria was Princess Alexandrina before her coronation, and King George was named Albert. Elizabeth II chose not to change her name, because this is only permissible, but not mandatory for the monarch.
20. Elizabeth is often called the queen of England, but this is not true. First, she is the monarch of the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and England is just a part of it.
21. Misconceptions about princesses are no less common. Lady Dee after her wedding with Prince Charles began to be called the princess. However, she was not a princess by birth, so by all the rules her title should have sounded like "Her Royal Highness Princess Charles of Wales", as strange as it may sound.
22. As for the chosen one of their eldest son William, Kate Middleton is also not a princess. She married the Duke of Cambridgeshire, and therefore her official title is Duchess of Cambridge.
23. According to official sources, different family members have their own privileges in addressing the Queen. So, the husband of Elizabeth II calls her Lilibet. The future queen called herself this name when she was very little and could not pronounce “Elizabeth”.
24. Elizabeth II is very economical and serves as an excellent example in this for her subjects. So, it is known that she always turns off the light when leaving the room, and requires this from all the inhabitants of the palace. The queen wears the same dresses for a long time.
25. Representatives of Buckingham Palace report that all of the Queen's overseas travel is in accordance with the recommendations of the British government. Therefore, most often Elizabeth visits those countries in which she needs to be present based on current state affairs.
During her 65 years on the throne, the Queen has made over 120 official visits. Most often, the queen visited Canada (27 times) and Australia (18 times).
26. Some people who were born shortly before or immediately after the New Year celebrate their birthday twice, but in general, usually a person has one birthday. But the Queen has two of them - on April 21, she was born for real, and in May or June, official celebrations are usually organized on her birthday.
27. Queen Elizabeth II currently rules Britain for the longest time in history: her term of reign is now 64 years. Queen Victoria, who ruled before her, remained on the throne for 63 years and 216 days. Nowadays, it is difficult for a person not to lose his job even for a year, let alone more than 60 years!
28. Only in 2013, Great Britain moved away from the concept of male succession, thus proclaiming that any member of the royal family, regardless of gender, can inherit the throne. You may ask: how then did Elizabeth II ascend to the throne? Elementary: her father had no sons.
29. What is the Queen's surname? I think many would like to know. But in fact, this is not so important: being on the throne, a person can take almost any surname for himself. Elizabeth II's father changed his surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor; later Windsor became Mountbatten-Windsor.
30. If you have ever seen Buckingham Palace up close, at least in a movie, you know that it is huge. It is located on an area of 77,000 square meters, it has 775 rooms and about 800 employees who keep it and the life of the royal family normal. There are cooks, maids, butlers, security guards and even watchmakers!
