My Mom, Germany, And History

I'm a history buff with half German and half English ancestry. But, Ancestry.com informs me that my DNA is not exactly 50/50. With a bit of Scandinavian (Denmark), I'm slightly more English than German, which surprises me because my Mom who was born in Germany, says she is 100% German. Her family lived in Germany without moving for 500 years or longer. So why am I not 50% German? Let's go back in time, shall we?

During the Middle Ages, the monarchs of Europe answered the Popes' calls to fight in the Crusades, and King Richard I of England, from the Plantagenet line, answered the call. At the time England also ruled across the Channel in parts of present-day France.

The following is history along with pure speculation  ...

After fighting in the Third Crusade while sailing home, Richard the Lionheart and 4 attendants were shipwrecked. They tried to cross (Central Europe) the Germanies incognito to return to England only to be recognized and captured by Duke Leopold V of Austria, handed over to Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI and held for ransom. 

It took 15 months for Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who ruled as his regent in England, to raise the money to pay for his freedom. My mother's Bavarian town was one of the places of Richard's captivity. Back in the day, when kings were held for ransom, they weren't locked up in a small jail cell but in a Castle befitting their station and allowed to roam within the perimeters of a given territory while being carefully watched by their captors. Under guard they could move around but couldn't leave the boundary. So those merry men might have fraternized with the local maidens of the town, because my mother's town has a mix of German and English ancestry. My mother's nieces and nephews with 2 German parents raised in the town also have some English DNA, as does other residents of her town. There is no record of significant English migration to Southern Germany during the centuries which would also explain the town's ancestry. Is my mother a descendent of either Richard the Lionheart or one of his 4 attendants? We shall never know.

My Mom and I back in the day.

Just for fun (as we can't take this too seriously), do you think Richard I and my Mom have the same nose? She had a cousin named Richard, a popular generational name in Southern Germany. Hmm, how did that name get into the family? A coincidence or not?:) 

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Source: David Attenborough Fans

17 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know About Germany

1. Germany is the most populous country in the European Union, with over 83 million people.

2. Berlin, the capital, is nine times larger than Paris and has more bridges than Venice.

3. Germany is home to the world's largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, the capital of Bavaria.

4. The country is famous for its contributions to classical music, being the birthplace of composers like Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms.

5. Germany is known for its extensive autobahn network, with some stretches having no speed limit.

6. The Berlin Wall, which once separated East and West Germany, stood for 28 years and was torn down in 1989.

7. Germany has over 1,500 types of sausages, with bratwurst and currywurst being particularly popular. Also wesswurst.

8. Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle

9. German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe and is known for its long compound words, such as Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz.

10. Germany has a rich history of innovation and is the birthplace of the printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century.

11. The country is one of the world's leading automobile
manufacturers, home to brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen.

12. Germany is home to more than 20,000 castles, reflecting its medieval history.

13. The Black Forest in southwestern Germany inspired the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.

14. Germans are known for their recycling efforts, boasting one of the highest recycling rates in the world.

15. The country is a federal republic, consisting of 16 states known as Bundesländer.

16. Germany has a strong Christmas market tradition, with Nuremberg and Dresden hosting some of the oldest and most famous markets.

17. It is a member of the Schengen Area, allowing for border free travel between many European countries.

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British people roll their eyes when Americans claim they are related to royalty. Personally I don't care one way or another. In the 21st century, I'm a proud commoner.

What makes history great fun (no pun intended:) is how we are all descendants of Charlemagne. It's ultra cool and simultaneously, nothing special, as it applies to every human with European ancestry. We also have a zillion other 16 times great-grandparents, too many to count! 

Richard I of England lies next to his mother Eleanor. He requested to lie at the feet of his father Henry II at the Abbey of Fontevraud (not captured in the photo) as an act of contrition for rebelling against him. All the bodies buried in the Abbey were destroyed during the French Revolution.

Richard I of England's ancestry traces back to William the Conqueror (his great-great grandfather), who was of Norman French and Viking (Norwegian) ancestry. William's Norman dynasty that ruled England integrated into a broader European landscape, including the Germanies.

Richard I was said to be his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine's favorite son. He had at least one known illegitimate son, Philip of Cognac, who lived into his 30s before disappearing (without legitimate issue) into history.📜 

I love when new artifacts or documents are found or decoded like the Dead Sea Scrolls, the body of Richard III, or the letters of Mary Queen of Scots. A history buff loves when facts emerge to unravel mysteries, as well as, to debunk them!

Alles Liebe zum Muttertag, Mama!

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Tiffany's Creative Force AT The Met

All photos: Carolyn

Recently my friend, Carolyn, and I returned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Edward C. Moore Exhibition. As we learned from the Met, "Mr. Moore was the creative force behind the magnificent and inventive silver produced by Tiffany & Co. during the 2nd half of the 19th century."

"His is a tale of phenomenal artistry, ambition, innovation, and vision. In his drive to study and create beauty, Moore sought inspiration in diverse cultures and geographies." 

"He amassed a vast collection of artworks from ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, Europe, and the Islamic world with the aim of educating and sparking creativity among artists and artisans in the United States, particularly those at Tiffany."

"He believed American design could be transformed through engagement with historical and international exemplars, and his collection not only revolutionized Tiffany's silver but also came to influence generations of artists and craftspeople." 

Upon Moore's death in 1891, his family donated his collection of 2,000 objects and 500 books to the Met so they would be available to everyone. This exhibit presents 180 of the silver objects he created or that were created under his direction.

Before leaving the Met, Carolyn and I went up to visit a few VanGogh's. Everybody's favorite, the Impressionist gallery, is always a must-see at the museum!

On our way to the rooms, we took in other artists exhibited on the Met's 2nd floor. Extra points if you guess whooo?

Thanks, Carolyn, for giving me permission to publish your photos and for spending a lovely afternoon with me at the Met!🎨

Answers: 1) Frans Hals, 2) the great El Greco, and 3) Jacques-Louis David

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The Rockettes And The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Photo: The New York Times

The Radio City Rockettes have kicked off the holiday season in New York City for the last 91 years. On my walk to the Time & Life building (i.e., work) in the morning, I petted the baby camel parked outside on one of the tiny side streets of Rockefeller Plaza. Golden fur, soft and so clean! The Living Nativity and Parade of the Living Soldiers have been in the Christmas show since its beginning. The Rockettes are a precision dance company famous for their kickline and eye-high kicks.

To be a Rockette, hopefuls must measure between 5'6" and 5'10.5" tall in stocking feet. The dancers must know tap, jazz, modern, and ballet. A total of 80 Rockettes are hired for the Christmas Spectacular, with 2 casts of 40 dancers for the afternoon and evening performances. They rehearse in the basement of St. Paul the Apostle Church (located on West 59th Street beside Lincoln Center) for six hours a day, six days a week for six weeks.

Only 36 dancers appear on stage at one time. The tallest dancers line up in the middle with shorter dancers on the ends. It gives the illusion that each woman is the same height.

The dancers do their own hair and makeup. Each performer wears a French twist, red lips (the shade is MAC Red or MAC Russian Red), and eyelashes.

There are more than 1,100 costumes and pairs of shoes. Their shoes have microphones so the audience can hear the tap dancing during 12 Days of Christmas and Rag Dog.

Other fun facts include the show runs for 90 minutes with no intermission. The Rockettes do more than 160 kicks per show and can perform up to 4 shows a day during the busy season. Since the Christmas Spectacular premiered in 1932, 3,000 women have been Rockettes.

Show tickets are not cheap, but nobody goes home disappointed. Here's a link with tips on how to get a discount on tickets, however, this may be a time when paying the piper is necessary as these suggestions don't look easy. More like hope and luck.🔔

If you wish to know what it's like to auditon and be a New York City Rockette, click the entertaining video below to hear firsthand:

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The Manet and Degas Exhibition Opens At the Met

Left: The Plum - Edouard Manet; Right: In a Cafe (The Absinthe Drinker) - Edgar Degas

A compelling art exhibit opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art running from September 24, 2023 - January 7, 2024. The show brings together 2 huge French impressionist artists who in life were friends, rivals, and sometimes foes: Èdouard Manet (1832 - 1883) and Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917) were nearly the same age.

Racehorses Before the Stands - Edgar Degas

The Races at Longchamp - Edouard Manet

While the Met always has works of these two contemporaries on view from its own collection, this exhibition gathers 160 of their paintings and works on paper, including masterpieces from around the world, to show the two colossi fathers of modern French painters, side by side, illustrating how their careers crossed and diverged. 

Olumpia - Edouard Manet

If you find yourself in Manhattan, be sure to visit the Manet/Degas exhibit. Seeing 160 pieces from 150 institutions and private collectors all in one place is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed!

Edouard Manet & his wife, Suzanne playing the piano - painted by Edgar Degas as a gift,  Manet hated the painting and caused a rift with his friend by slashing it.

I've not gone myself yet, but will soon! Meanwhile, here's a write-up with more of the beautiful exhibition paintings in The New York Times. When I see it, I'll surely spot favorites!

Years ago as a Congressional intern (in the US Senate), I fell in love with an Edouard Manet painting hanging in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and frequently went to look at it. Right before I left town, I bought the poster, had it framed in New York, and it has been hanging in my living room ever since. I never get tired of looking at it. Click here for a peek. I love Manet's realism and harsh contrasts of light and shadows and Degas' brightness, lightness, and shimmer of color.

Do you have a favorite?

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My Favorite Oscar Dresses 2023

All Photo: Getty images. 1) Margo Robbie looks stunning in a black sequin Armani Prive dress.

Since I select my favorite Oscar dresses every year, there's no need for copy. Here they are as we're watching the show.

2) Malala Yousafza is wearing Ralph Lauren; 3) Hong Chau is in Prada: 4) Michelle Yeoh wears Dior Haute Couture 

5) Nichole Kidman is dressed in Giorgio Armani Prive; 6) Michelle Williams is in custom Chanel: 7) Angela Bassette has on a Moschino dress.

8) Danai Gurira is in a Jason Wu black suede gown.

I tend to pick gowns non-showbiz people dream of wearing, so more glamorous than visionary. Most of us just want to look our pretty-best. Did any of mine make your list?

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