Go Back in Time and Discover…

Why do we say "O-clock" when we refer to the time?

Centuries ago, people said "of the clock" when they told someone the time, as in "six of the clock". Then, in the 17th and 18th centuries, this phrase was shortened to "of clock". Finally, in the early 19th century, the term was further shortened to "O-clock" and has remained that way since.

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Where did the "drawing room" get its name from?

The "drawing room" in a house is where guests are received and entertained. The term "drawing" is actually the short form of "withdrawing". The withdrawing room was the room to which guests withdrew after dinner to talk at leisure. The word was later shortened to "drawing room". In some houses, it is also referred to as the "living room".

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Why is Norway known as the "Land of the Midnight Sun"?

Norway has a unique geography - the sun does not set here from the middle of May to the end of July, and it does not rise from the end of November in the end of January Norway is not the only country to experience this phenomenon -Alaska, Canada (including the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), Finland, Iceland Lapland, Russia, and Sweden also have the same conditions. In fact, the term "Land of the Midnight Sun" can refer to any of the world's northern regions above the Arctic Circle.

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When was silk first invented or used?

Silk is said to have originated as early as 3500 B.C. in China. Legend says that Empress Hsi- Ling-Shih invented the method of raising silkworms and unwinding silk filaments from the cocoons. Silk was originally reserved for the kings of China for their own use and to be given as gifts. For 8,000 years, the knowledge of this process was kept a closely guarded secret.