Quelques journées internationales : Juillet
A small selection of « world » days:
Le 16 juillet : Journée mondiale des serpents: World Snake Day
France has 13, not 16, native species of snake plus one from Switzerland that has become a permanent immigrant. 10 of them are the non-poisonous garter snakes and only 4 are poisonous vipers. Bites from these can be painful but are rarely fatal.
How do you tell which is which ?
The garter snake has round eyes, large scales on an oval head, and a longer slender body. The viper has slit eyes, smaller scales on a sometimes triangular head, and a shorter, stockier body.
Would you stop to check ?
Le 17 juillet : Journée mondiale des emojis: World Emoji Day
It’s not possible to have fluent, complex conversations or express specific thoughts using emoji, so it’s not a language yet. But it is a powerful tool for transcending language barriers because people understand what the symbols mean, regardless of their native tongue. Will it succeed where Esperanto failed ? It seems well on track.
Le 19 juillet : Journée Internationale des Châteaux : Palace Day
Châteaux abound in France. If you are not able to visit them, try an online virtual tours. Just go to google.
Le 24 juillet : Journée Internationale des cousins et cousines : International Cousins’ Day
It’s called a cousinade when they all get together, as opposed to a family reunion.
Le 29 juillet : Journée nationale du rouge à lèvres : Lipstick Day
Lipstick was banned by the British parliament in 1770, considered impolite by Queen Victoria but encouraged by Winston Churchill to boost troop morale. In France at the end of the 19th century, the famous always-lip-sticked actress Sarah Bernhardt, wore it in public and created a scandal. Wearing lipstick became a declaration of independence and audacity. Coco Chanel initiated “la petite bouche rouge”. Hitler loathed it and forbade it in his entourage, so lipstick became a symbol of resistance.
Le 30 juillet: Journée Internationale de l’Amitié : Friendship Day
Since 2011, this has been an official UN day to promote friendship within individuals, peoples, cultures, communities and countries.
Don’t leave it at just one day.