Takeshi Okawara, the marketing genius who sold Japan on KFC for Christmas dinner, recently admitted that it was built on a lie. When KFC Japan was starting from scratch, the national broadcaster NHK asked if fried chicken was really the Western Christmas tradition. Okawara replied “Of course!” He told podcast “Household Name” : “I knew that the […]
In Iceland, you exchange books on Christmas Eve and spend the rest of the night reading. Preferably in bed. With chocolates. Later at Christmas parties, you’ll discuss the Christmas books, while newspapers will gossip about best and worst titles, best covers etc. This cosy tradition is known as “Jólabókaflóðið:” the annual Christmas Book Flood. The two […]
Stressing out over mailing deadlines for Christmas cards and presents ? In 1880, the Victorian postal service made its first ever plea to post early for Christmas. No later than the 24th of December, please! Christmas Day mail service was restricted to only one delivery. A very British problem, indeed. Would you pay to receive […]
The Big Apple hardly noticed laurel and Hardy leaving but, by God, Cobh noticed them arriving. Adrian Patrick Gebruers tells the story of how, as a young boy in St Joseph’s Boy’s Primary School, Cobh, Co. Cork: “The thought that our favourite film comedians might be a stone’s throw away down town while we scholars […]
Ancient Celtic dogs are in stories and proverbs, protected in laws, and even used to name other animals. There are nine breeds of dog that are native to Ireland: four terriers, three gun dogs, and two hounds. At least one, the Irish Water Spaniel, legendarily descended from the dobhar-chu-a Celtic spirit. Cú Chulainn is the […]
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