Bob Kane, who created Batman, died on this day in 1998 at the age of 83. His original idea for the character looked little like what he became. Originally he was:
...a character who looked very much like Superman with kind of ... reddish tights, I believe, with boots ... no gloves, no gauntlets ... with a small domino mask, swinging on a rope. He had two stiff wings that were sticking out, looking like bat wings. And under it was a big sign ... BATMAN.Now, we know that character as Robin.
Today is the celebration of the Resurrection of Osiris, Egyptian god of the Afterlife. His story of death and resurrection reflects the cycle of the flooding Nile which destroys and then brings new life to the narrow strip of fertile ground in Egypt. He plays a prominent role in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. He's the guy with the green face. Here is a brief synopsis of what to do when you die (in Egypt) which can be sung to the tune of Walkin' in Memphis.
In 1600, theologian Richard Hooker, died. His writings had a profound influence on the Anglican church, but he is primarily remembered for being a theologian whose last name was Hooker.
Today is the feastday of three interesting saints. Malacy O'More prophesied about the popes to come and, according to him, only one pope remains after Benedict XVI until the end of the world. You may now proceed to scream.
St. Winifred was martyred on this day as well. According to legend, she wanted to become a nun rather than get married, so her husband to be decapitated her. Her head rolled down a hill and a well sprung up there. Then her uncle (another saint, it ran in the family) put her back together, at which point the ground promptly swallowed up her violent fiancee. COOL! Gerald Manley Hopkins wrote about her in his poem/play aptly named St. Winifred's Well.
Another saint associated with healing liquid has a feastday today. St. Hubert was out hunting deer on Sunday when he was supposed to be in church. Most saints are required to do that. A crucifix appeared in the antlers of the deer he was chasing and told him to act more like a saint. The symbol and the story of St. Hubert later inspired the liquor cordial Jägermeister (which means "master hunter").
Finally, the feastday of St. Germanus is today as well. He was a theological opponent of Pelagius. He inspired Hilaire Belloc to write The Pelagian Drinking Song:
Pelagius lived at KardanoelI don't see why we can't sing that in church.
And taught a doctrine there
How, whether you went to heaven or to hell
It was your own affair.
It had nothing to do with the Church, my boy,
But was your own affair.
No, he didn't believe
In Adam and Eve
He put no faith therein!
His doubts began
With the Fall of Man
And he laughed at Original Sin.
With my row-ti-tow
Ti-oodly-ow
He laughed at original sin.
Then came the bishop of old Auxerre
Germanus was his name
He tore great handfuls out of his hair
And he called Pelagius shame.
And with his stout Episcopal staff
So thoroughly whacked and banged
The heretics all, both short and tall --
They rather had been hanged.
Oh he whacked them hard, and he banged them long
Upon each and all occasions
Till they bellowed in chorus, loud and strong
Their orthodox persuasions.
With my row-ti-tow
Ti-oodly-ow
Their orthodox persuasions.
Now the faith is old and the Devil bold
Exceedingly bold indeed.
And the masses of doubt that are floating about
Would smother a mortal creed.
But we that sit in a sturdy youth
And still can drink strong ale
Let us put it away to infallible truth
That always shall prevail.
And thank the Lord
For the temporal sword
And howling heretics too.
And all good things
Our Christendom brings
But especially barley brew!
With my row-ti-tow
Ti-oodly-ow
Especially barley brew!
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