Footloose London Walks

25/12/2023

Did you know how did Christmas begin?
Christmas 🎄 🎄 🎄
Long before Christianity, people have gathered to celebrate in the darkest days of winter. Early Europeans slaughtered their cattle to sustain them through these harsh months, and enjoyed the fresh meat along with alcohol that had fermented during the year.

The Christian festival we know today didn’t begin until the fourth century. Despite its celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ, Pope Julius I didn’t base his choice of 25 December on Jesus’s date of birth. This is because the Bible doesn’t actually tell us when he was born.

Rather, this midwinter choice was due to older festivals being held in the winter, which increased the chances of this new annual event – Christmas – being embraced by a wider population.
by Lauren Good
Digital Editorial Assistant, HistoryExtra

08/05/2023

In this long Coronation weekend we have witnessed an important historical moment full of rituals.
The coronation of King Charles III, on May 6th, is one of the kind, perfect in its organisation and attention to details.
Starting from the design of the invitation card, with symbols that give homage to the past Monarch, the interests of the King and his loves.
The ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, the PLACE where monarchs have been crowned since William the Conqueror in 1066.
A ceremony marked by anointing, all manners of homage-paying and taking oath second to none. A ceremony that has brought together traditions and the future, as King Charles III, since his very young age, has had a keen attention to the environment, the sciences, inclusiveness, welfare, youth interests.
An example, this ceremony, that serves to recall a shared history and to call for the opportunity to portray continuity.

There are people who do not approve of the Monarchy, others who do not approve of the King or of Camilla, others who would have passed the throne directly to prince Williams, I just say that nothing, in life, is ever black and white and we must allow for changes due to cause-effect circumstances and judge not harshly.

Wishing that King Charles III enjoy a successful reign.

29/10/2022

Ladies and gentlemen…✨her✨

When this painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1822, it ‘set all London raving’ according to writer Lord Byron. Depicting Margaret, Countess of Blessington, this portrait by Thomas Lawrence is an exquisite example of the artist’s ability to combine precise detailing such as the sitter’s face and a loose handling of paint in the background.

The sitter is dressed very simply and wears little jewellery. The only indication of her aristocratic status is the ermine-trimmed robe draped over the chair.

29/10/2022

Covent garden will never disappoint you.

✨There’s only 2 weeks to go until Covent Garden becomes your favourite festive destination🎄

From the morning of 8th November, uncover our world of winter wonders as we officially launch Christmas in Covent Garden 🎁
Plan your visit 👉 https://bit.ly/3OGy7tc

02/10/2020

This year marks the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (born 1869), the man who has united people with his ideology of non-violence and truth always.

Every year on October 2 we celebrate Gandhi Jayanti to honour this legendary leader, in India it’s public holidays.

In London, in what is nicknamed the Peace garden, in Tavistock Square, Bloomsbury area (close to the British Museum) is a beautiful bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi by Fredda Brilliant.

The place is frequently visited and there are always fresh flowers by his statue.

It is a serene spot of London where you can also find the statue of a lesser known heroine of the WW2, Noor Inayat Khan who infiltrated occupied France at the service of the British.

12/01/2020

11 Jan 1753. The day Sir Hans Sloane, an Irish physician, died. He bequeted his extensive collection to the British people in exchange of the promise that it would be made available for free to all studious and curious people.
Read more about him on the British museum website.

Read how Sloane's collection of 71,000 items provided the foundation of the Museum.

07/01/2020

Camden and music again: Chalk Farm studio. A picture of the Clash with Keith Levene.
Curiosity: Paul Simonon's gifts do not rest just on being the great bassist of the Clash, he is also gifted with more artistic skills! See by yourself!
http://paulsimonon.com/

07/01/2020

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-51014040

The owner of the venue in Camden says he is "deeply saddened" by the blaze at the "iconic building".

02/01/2020

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/whats-in-a-name-months-of-the-year/

Ever wondered why we call the months what we do? Wonder no longer! Here’s our handy guide to the names of the months of the year. Like many bits of culture, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we can thank the Romans for most of it… January is named after the Roman god [...]

31/12/2019

Colours of Covent Garden.