Kids Questions & Answers

A common figure in Western folklore, Jack Frost is a personification of the nippiest winter weather, credited with leaving beautiful plant-like patterns on windows and frosting on leaves. His name is probably of Norse derivation – the Norsemen knew him as ‘Jokul Frosti’ or Jack Frost. The Saxons who settled in Britain had their Lord Snow and King Frost.

A short order cook is a cook who specializes in preparing simple dishes which can be cooked very quickly. These types of cooks work in places like diners and fast food restaurants, where speedy service is emphasized, and the menu tends to be kept very simple. Some short order cooks have formal training, but others learn through apprenticeship by working …

In ancient China, words were printed by cutting the symbols in blocks of wood. The Chinese later invented movable type, a process in which letters are made separately and assembled to form words. However, successful printing with movable metal type (letters) in Europe was not invented until the 15th century. The man usually called the inventor of printing was Johannes …

China clay, or kaolin, is usually mined from pits like this, for making pottery, or china, as well as other things such as plastics. To make porcelain (the finest kind of china) it is fused with china stone, or petuntse, at very high temperature.

Chicory was first roasted and used in coffee in Holland around 1750. It soon became a popular replacement for coffee. By 1785, James Bowdoin, the governor of Massachusetts, had introduced it to US. In 1806, Napoleon attempted to make France completely self-sufficient by using as a substitute. While this did not last long, the French continued to use chicory to …

The sevillana dress is worn by artistes who perform sevillana, a colourful and exciting style of song and dance that originated in Castile, Spain. It is a variation of a style of dance known as the seguidilla. It is performed to a strict 3/4 rhythm by pairs or groups of people. This style of dance is performed at fiestas of …

Renoir’s style was impressionist. He delighted in the effect of sunshine filtering through trees, dappling revellers in its light. Near the end of his life, Renoir finally found a style which was a combination of impressionism and the older styles. Renoir was one of the co-founders of impressionism, a style in quick brush strokes are employed. His paintings are notable …

Installation artist Catherine Bay obviously feels rather strongly about consumerism. In her recent work, the Snow White Project, currently on display in New York, she makes a grand statement against it by showcasing several avatars of the fairytale character Snow White. They are clad in various costumes and hold placards proclaiming ‘I Am An Everyday Consumer Product” and ‘My Life …

This phrase origins has several interpretations. Some popular ones are as follows: nine yards probably refers to the amount of cloth / material needed to make a wedding dress or bridal train, a man’s three piece suit or a burial shroud. Also, the term, perhaps, comes from from World War II pilots who wanted to be sure that they were …

The Merlin award is the highest award given, internationally, in the field of magic and illusion. The award is presented by the International Magician Society. The Merlin award is unusual in that the magician’s category and year of receiving the award are not published. Gopinath Muthukad of India was recently given the award. He is the second Indian after PC …