TAKE A BREAK
For centuries, Europeans used the Julian calendar, created by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. It was based on the solar calendar, so most of Europe thought it was the most accurate calendar. However, over the centuries, dates had “drifted,” and many important days, like Easter and the spring equinox, were no longer falling on the dates they were supposed to. To compensate, the new Gregorian calendar was developed and put to use by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It helped put things back in order and eliminated the extra day every 128 years. However, not everyone adopted the Gregorian calendar right away, such as the British. That meant that Europeans were using two diverging calendars for over 200 years. Talk about confusing! People realized that as the world started to expand and as countries became more connected, having a single calendar system was critical. Finally, the British chose the year 1752 to make the change. But, in order to make it work, they had to “jump” forward. For instance, 1751 could only be 10 months long — starting with March and ending with Dec. 31, 1751. But even that adjustment didn’t quite bring the English up to speed in time to make the shift. They also had to cut 11 days from 1752. The unlucky dates that were cut were Sept. 2–14, 1752. The people were not happy. English historians found research that British citizens chanted “Give us our 11 days!” in the streets. The phrase became so popular that some politicians even campaigned with that as their slogan. Several other historical accounts state that many people were worried that by cutting the calendar, their own lives would be cut 11 days shorter. There was a lot of confusion and chaos, but over time, dates fell where they were supposed to, and everyone lived their full lives, those 11 days included. 11 DAYS DELETED FROM HISTORY How the British Changed Their Calendar System and Caused Chaos
... Continued from Cover
that for the safety of others, their policy was for their drivers to mask up while on the property of another, including the driveway. They could argue that the driver’s vision was obstructed because he was wearing a mask. It would be a terrible injustice on top of an already unspeakable tragedy if there were no remedy available for the little girl or her family. Can anything good come from COVID-19? Well, maybe we can use it as a good excuse to get outside with family. Consider using this strange time as an opportunity to discover outdoor adventures. We have tremendous resources right here in East Tennessee for hiking, biking, walking, camping, and exploring. Ride a bike at Tannery Knobs, hike one of the Buffalo Mountain trails, walk, ride, or jog the Tweetsie Trail. These are just few of the many outdoor attractions right here in our own backyard. My family recently drove to Grayson Highlands State Park close to Abingdon, Virginia. After having a picnic, we went on a nice, relatively easy hike into the park. The views were amazing, and we ran into wild ponies during our hike all while getting a little exercise and enjoying some family time. We were back home in time to watch a movie together that night and are truly blessed to be surrounded by amazing natural resources here in Northeast Tennessee. I recognize that any subject involving COVID-19 right now is very controversial. And there are so many possible legal issues surrounding COVID that it would be impossible to even approach a complete discussion here. We all recognize the need to balance the interests of businesses and the economy against the interests of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our citizens, but there are no easy answers. I know we are all looking forward to a day when COVID-19 is in the rearview mirror, and we can get on with life as we have known it before. I hope that day comes, and I hope that it comes soon. These problems are not easy. But if we are reasonably careful and treat others with decency and respect, we can get through this and ultimately move on. Stay safe out there. -Olen Haynes,Jr.
HaynesLawyers.com | 3
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs