Words That Should Exist In English 4

I love being concise (although you probably wouldn't know it from speaking with me!), so welcome to my 4th entry with short words in other languages that have amazingly specific meanings!

Reader's Digest thankfully found these for me in the book The Meaning of Tingo by Adam Jacot de Boinod.

Zhaghzhagh (Persian): The chattering of teeth from cold or from rage.

Yuputka (Ulwa): The phantom sensation of something crawling under your skin.

Cotisuelto (Caribbean Spanish): One who wears how shirttail outside of his trousers.

Pana Po'o (Hawaiian): To scratch your head in order to help you remember something.

Here's an example short sentence to help you all incorporate these into your daily speech:

"When the cotisuelto felt a yuputka, he pana po'oed to figure out why, but noticing he had zhaghzhagh, too, he figured he was just cold."

:)

If you liked those - you should pick up the book. It's apparently jam-packed with character-saving words like these.

Why Do We Celebrate July 4th With Fireworks?

This actually dates back to the day before the Declaration of Independence was signed!

According to slate.com:

Why do we commemorate Independence Day by setting off thousands of small explosions? 

Because John Adams wanted us to. Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed, he envisioned fireworks as a part of the festivities. In a letter to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, he wrote that the occasion should be commemorated "with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” The first commemorative Independence Day fireworks were set off on July 4, 1777. The Pennsylvania Evening Post wrote that in Philadelphia, “The evening was closed with the ring of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”

Not a bad thing to add to your great legacy, John Adams!

Why Do Our Fingers Get Pruney In Water?

Reader's Digest answered that for us in their May 2013's issue:

Did You Know... WhyWe Get Pruney Fingers In Water? 

Thank your primate ancestors for those wrinkly digits in your bath. Pruney fingers provided a better grip for wet objects, so they may have evolved to give humans an advantage in gathering food in the rain, British researchers at Newcastle University reported in the journal Biology Letters. The scientists, who studied how quickly participants could move wet versus dry marbles, found that people with dimpled fingertips were about 12 percent quicker at moving wet objects, according to the New York Times.

Want to learn more? Click here! for a related article in Scientific American.

What Do The Laundry Symbols Mean?

Sometimes my clothing tags don't have the laundry/care instructions written out -- they just have symbols -- and I am left guessing what they mean. Not anymore! Thankfully, Primer Magazine recently posted a handy chart explaining them all. And now I am sharing it with you. :)

For the entire article about how to care for your clothes correctly (and for a bigger chart!): click here!

Why Does The Pope Change His Name?

The world welcomed Pope Francis as the new leader of the Catholic Church last week. Wonder why he didn't just go by his given name and become Pope Jorge Mario?

Well, the Catholic church does not force the pope to take on a new name with the new role; it's a choice by the pope himself. Several hundred years ago, Pope Marcellus II actually kept his name. The pope chooses a new name as a way of symbolizing his mission as pope. Popes in the past have picked saints names or former popes' names whose priorities and desires are similar to theirs.

Before the 6th Century, popes were known by their given names. The first pope to change his name was Pope John II, originally named Mercurius, in 533 AD. He decided to have his name be associated with his predecessor Pope John I, as opposed to the pagan god Mercury. As leader of the Catholic Church, who could blame him? :)

It's thought that Pope Francis picked his name to be linked to Saint Francis of Assisi, a kind and beloved saint, who was known for renouncing the riches of this world to live in poverty. In Argentina, Pope Francis is said to have lived a humble and simple lifestyle full of compassion for the poor, and that is how he will likely live out his papacy. He wants to be a pope who is close to the people.

Some suggest that he also wanted to evoke the memory of Saint Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary, since Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope.

The now-retired Pope Benedict XVI chose that name to link himself with Pope Benedict XV, who led the church with a steady hand through World War I. As it turned out, Pope Benedict XVI was also like his namesake in that they both reigned for about 8 years.

Once Father Jorge & Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis!

[sources: latimes, wikipedia, npr]