A Birthday? Elementary.
CAN YOUR FAMILY SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES’ BIRTHDAY?
1. Read: Dive into the original stories that created the world’s most famous detective. Read and exchange the books as a family, or have your little one practice reading out loud before bedtime. There’s no better way to experience the stories that have captivated audiences than by rereading them in any order, and you just may find a clue others have missed. 2. Research: Channel Holmes and Dr. Watson and become detectives yourselves! Read up on the clues, examine all the angles, and see what you discover about this mysterious birthday. 3. Host a Party: Host a Sherlock-themed bash to celebrate the famed supersleuth’s birthday! Debate the clues of Holmes’ mysterious birthday, and see if any of your guests have interesting theories.
Readers have loved adventuring with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as they solve some of England’s most dastardly mysteries for the past 100 years, but there’s one huge mystery that no one can seem to solve: When is Sherlock Holmes’ birthday? On Jan. 6, 2020, Holmes fans will celebrate the famed fictional detective’s 166th birthday, but it’s a day author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never specified in any of the books. In “His Last Bow,” Doyle describes Holmes as 60 years old in the year 1914. That places Holmes’ birth year in 1854, but why was Jan. 6 chosen as his day of birth? In the 1930s, Holmes superfan, journalist, and novelist Christopher Morley decided Jan. 6 must be Holmes’ birthday because an astrologer suggested it. Fans doubled down on this belief because Holmes quotes William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” twice in the series — the only literary work he ever mentions — and Jan. 6 is 12 days after Christmas. Additionally, in “The Valley of Fear,” Holmes wakes up disoriented on Jan. 7, almost as if he was out the night before celebrating something special!
We may never know the day the world’s most beloved inspector was born in fictional London, but as Holmes himself said, “... When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
So, are you and your family up to the challenge of solving this mystery? Here are a few ways you can put the clues together.
WINTER BLUES?
Check Out These Local Attractions
As the holiday magic wears off, the winter blues may be settling in. Don’t spend the winter pulling your hair out with cabin fever! Instead, check out these local, family-friendly attractions. DISCOVERY CENTER OF SPRINGFIELD 438 E. St. Louis St., Springfield
Cedar is a resort in the middle of the wilderness that’s sure to cure your cabin fever. Challenge your family to a friendly go-kart race, or practice your swing at the golf simulator. Other attractions include laser tag, an arcade, a climbing wall, underwater-themed bowling, and the specialty “spin” and “flip” zones. And don’t fret over dinner! Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl & Grill is available on-site. Learn more about your next winter adventure at BigCedar.com . JORDAN VALLEY ICE PARK PUBLIC ICE SKATING 635 E. Trafficway, Springfield
What could be better than a day of fun and education? Your family will find that and so much more at the Discovery Center of Springfield. With rotating programs, exhibits,
and special features, the center has something for every kid. Let your toddler explore the world on the first floor, or let your little scientist run wild through the second-floor exhibits. You can even travel to space in the center’s astronomy exhibit! Learn more about the various exhibits, and discover what’s on the docket for events this January at DiscoveryCenter.org . FUN MOUNTAIN AT BIG CEDAR LODGE 190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale
Of course, no January to-do list would be complete without a quintessential winter activity. Strap on your skates during public skating hours at Jordan Valley Ice Park. The rink is open seven days each week during various times starting in the early afternoon and stretching into the
Explore the sea, race against your family, or climb along the treetops without ever leaving the Ozarks this winter. Fun Mountain at Big
evening. Start a new family tradition this January, or host a skating party with your kid’s class! Be sure to check ParkBoard.org/Calendar for more information and public skating times.
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