The origin of the handshake goes back to primitive eras: the physical contact of the hand symbolized peace and friendship. Later symbolism of the gesture, apart from a greeting, was the ratification of a contract or pledge. Even today, we clinch a contract or business deal by ‘shaking hands on it’. Archaeological ruins and texts show the handshake was in …

Because early rural communities were so small and all communications were delivered by word of mouth, there was no need for any-mailing addresses. People knew the whereabouts of their relatives and neighbors, and messages were easily directed to them. Then, as more of the common folk learned to read and write, and as people began to inhabit and name more …

Figure skating began in the later part of the 19th century in Europe. An American ballet master Jackson Haines, who lived in Vienna in 1860s, added the elements of ballet and dance to figure skating. The first world championship for men was held in St Petersburg in 1896, followed by the women’s championship in 1906.

Art Cologne is an art fair held annually in Cologne, Germany. It is Germany’s leading art fair and was established in 1967. It bills itself as the ‘world’s oldest art fair’ although the 57th Street Art Fair was founded in 1948, almost two decades earlier. For six days each year, the fair brings together a large number of leading dealers …

Located on the west coast of Sweden, Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city. Known primarily as a university city housing two famous universities — University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology — Gothenburg is also an important trade centre, having one of the largest ports in the Scandinavian countries. Further, the city happens to be an important cultural and …

The Green Gold or Oro Verde project seeks to ensure the safety of miners and also protect them from exploitation. A jewellery shop in Chi Chester, England along with miners in a cooperative in Choco in North-East Colombia and the Fair Trade Foundation embarked on this project which promotes the purchase of green gold or jewellery which isn’t created by …

Blue Nile and White Nile are two tributaries of the Nile that flow from the South into what is referred to as the Nile proper, the longest river in the world. While the White Nile is the longer tributary, the Blue Nile is the main source of water and fertile soil. The White Nile is called so because of the …

‘Top dog’ means one who is dominant or victorious. When wooden planks were sawn by hand, two men did the job using a two-handed saw. The senior man took the top handle, standing on the wood, and the junior took the bottom, in the saw-pit below. The irons that were used to hold the wood were called dogs and that …

Situated at an altitude of 1,560 metres, in the heart of the Alps in Switzerland, the town of Davos has the distinction of being the largest mountain resort in the Alps and the highest town of Europe. Its major tourist attraction are skiing and winter sports. It is also a preferred place for holding international conferences. It hosts almost every …

Ascot is a town in southern England where horse races are held and Royal Ascot is the most famous and popular race meeting. The Queen and the royal family normally attend every day. The royal procession in a horse-drawn carriage, scheduled before racing on each day, is the Royal Ascot parade. It was started in 1711 by Queen Anne. The …