Episodes

France’s Jewish population mostly had no family surnames – until 20th July, 1808, when Napoleon issued a decree insisting they adopted one. They were not permitted to choose place names, and allusions to the Old Testament were forbidden. Rumours persist that some families were charged higher fees to adopt prettier names, but in a Europe […]

The world’s biggest-selling chocolate bar underwent a name-change in Britain on 19th July, 1990. Until then – concerned that Brits might refer to their candy as ‘knickers’ – Snickers had been known as ‘Marathon’ in the UK.  31 years later, the decision still smarts for some sections of the confectionary-buying public – but, thanks to

Kissing was a big deal in the Middle Ages: for signing contracts, for greeting colleagues, and for showing deference to the King – a tradition that ended on 16th July, 1439, when Henry VI issued a decree imploring his citizens to stop kissing his ring. Some 400 years before the modern concepts of hygiene and

The first images of Mars found their way back to Earth from NASA’s Mariner 4 mission on 15th July, 1965 – and were simultaneously revelatory and disappointing. Delivered as binary code, rendered in black and white, and revealing only 1% of the planet, the photos were coloured in by hand and showed no evidence of

Dr Benjamin Spock’s ‘Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care’ was first published on 14th July, 1946. It was then translated into 40 languages, selling over 50 million copies – second only to the Bible in the USA. Spock’s thesis is perhaps best summarised in its seminal opening sentence: ‘Trust yourself, you know more

Queen Victoria moved from her birthplace, Kensington Palace, and decreed Buckingham Palace her official residence on 13th July, 1837. She was 18, newly-crowned – and until then had shared a bedroom with her mother. Built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, the Palace had never previously permanently housed anyone, and was reportedly drafty, dirty,

‘Disco Demolition Night’, the brainchild of 24 year-old shock jock Steve Dahl, caused mass hysteria at Comiskey Park, Chicago on 12th July, 1979 – causing a pitch invasion that lead to 39 arrests. Intended as a promotional event for a Tigers vs White Sox doubleheader, attendees were lured with discounted admission if they turned up

One of the BBC’s biggest-ever flops, soap opera ‘Eldorado’, broadcast its final episode on 9th July, 1993 – just one year after it had begun, at a reported cost of £10 million. Focussing on the glamorous lives of British expats – fusing the elements of ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Neighbours’ – it had seemed destined to be

‘Our Lady of Kazan’, a painting of the Virgin and Child, was discovered in the ashes of a fire in the Russian town of Kazan on 8th July, 1579. The icon quickly became associated with miracles after two blind men were said to have their sight restored by standing in front of it. The original

‘The Seven Wonders of the World’ *sounds* impressive, but could they do with an update? That was the mission of the mysterious Swiss-based ‘New 7 Wonders Foundation’ when they announced the NEW seven wonders of the world in a ceremony in Lisbon on 7th July, 2007. The finalists – including Petra, the Colosseum, and Chichen