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Occasional Digest, London (2025)

23/09/2025

Tuesday 23 September Rosh Hashanah in Israel
The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is generally known as the New Year's Day of the Jewish calendar, but has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgement, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

- It is the Day of Judgement - Jews across the world examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins.
- It is the Day of Shofar Blowing - The Shofar (an ancient musical horn usually made of a ram's horn) is blown in temples to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days. The sound of the horn is meant to awaken the hearers from their spiritual slumber, to make them aware of their actions and their repercussions
- It is the Day of Remembrance - As Jews remember the history of their people and pray for Israel.
- And of course, it is New Year's Day - Celebrated with its holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and eating sweet foods such as apples dipped in honey (to ensure sweetness in the New Year).

The traditions of Rosh Hashanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar.

According to Judaism, Rosh Hashanah is traditionally the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve.

The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Repentance or the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim). This is a time for introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent (Teshuvah) before Yom Kippur. Jews are expected to reach out to friends, loved ones and community members and apologise to them for any wrongs they did to them during the year. And any apology must be sincere and meaningful.

https://bit.ly/4gVzrZ7

22/09/2025

Monday 22 September Independence Day in Bulgaria
Bulgaria had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1396. In the late nineteenth century, a growing tide of nationalism had been spreading across Europe, which had been threatening the break up of the western parts of the Ottoman Empire.

In April 1876, uprisings in other parts of the Ottoman Empire spread to Bulgaria. The suppression of the revolts by the Ottomans was horrific and when the atrocities were made public to the West and Russia, international condemnation was widespread. In 1877, Russia formally declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The conflict eventually resulted in the creation of a Bulgarian principality within the Ottoman Empire, albeit with reduced land.

Following a war with Serbia, the principality extended its area in the region and on September 22nd 1908, in the Veliko Tarnovo, a manifesto, Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria declared Bulgaria’s independence from the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria reappeared on the map of Europe after five centuries of Ottoman rule.

In 1908, Bulgaria was still using the Julian calendar, so the declaration of independence was made on October 5th using that calendar.

https://bit.ly/4mrv6xA

21/09/2025

Man with camera and mic off in Zoom call projecting air of alluring mystery
A MAN has cultivated an enigmatic cult of personality by dialling into a Zoom call with his mic and camera off, it has emerged.

Sales manager Martin, not his real name, sent his co-workers into a frenzy of gossip and erotic longing after attending a weekly catch-up meeting without sharing his face and remaining shrouded in digital silence.

Colleague Joanna, not her real name, said: “It’s like having James Bond or Carlos Santana on the call. Even though they’d never be the sorts to give a f**k about Q2 revenue updates.

“Who are they? What do they look like? Are they single? I might have to turn my own mic and camera off as my mind runs rampant with sexual speculation.

“Perhaps he’s a brooding Heathcliff type, or maybe he’s a Banksy-esque figure whose cachet thrives on anonymity. Either way, it’s working. Nobody better tell him he’s on mute and shatter the steamy illusion.

“Even when he was asked to share his feedback he remained stubbornly silent, like a sexy dissident intellectual in 60s Prague. I’m ready to sh*tcan my husband and kids over him.”

Martin said: “My laptop’s knackered. So I just sat in my pants eating Doritos and watching videos of dogs riding skateboards on my phone.”

https://bit.ly/4gwA4rA

21/09/2025

Sunday 21 September Ancestors' Day in Cambodia
Pchum Ben, also known as Ancestors' Day or 'Hungry Ghosts Festival', is a 15-day Cambodian religious festival, which culminates in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar, marking the end of the Buddhist lent.

Phcum Ben starts on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Putrobut until the 15th day before the new moon. Each of the the first fourteen days of the festival is called a day of Kan Ban. The 15th and last day is called 'Pchum Ben' and is the start of a two day public holiday.

In Khmer, the language of Cambodia, Pchum means 'to gather together' and Ben means 'a ball of food'. Pchum Ben, also called 'Brochum Ben' is the most important festival in the Khmer religious calendar. The day is a time for Cambodians to pay their respects to their ancestors of up to seven generations.

The Pchum Ben festival dates back to the Angkorian period when the people of the area followed animism (the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.). Eventually animism was replaced by Buddhism as the prominent religion in the region, however Buddhism and animism both emphasised respect for ancestors, so the ancient customs of Pchum Ben continued and flourished under the newer religion.

It is said that on the first day of Pchum Ben, the gates of hell are opened and the devil releases all the ghosts, some of who are ancestors of the people.

There are four different kinds of ghosts released: those who eat blood and pus, burning ghosts who are always hot, hungry ghosts and the Pakrakteaktopak Chivi, who can receive food through the monks.

https://bit.ly/47S9t6f

20/09/2025

Annoying friend saying the right thing again
A WOMAN’S friend has once again infuriated her by providing useful advice instead of listening to her complaints in a supportive manner.

Hannah, not her real name, rage is building after hanging out with her friend Karen, not her real name, , who had the nerve to provide constructive insights into her petty gripes rather than appropriately indulging in her misery by having a moan.

Han said: “If I wanted advice I’d ask for it. Otherwise Ellie’s supposed to nod along and say ‘that’s so f**king annoying’ or ‘what a twat’ when I catch my breath.

“Instead though she’s breaking down my problems into easily fixable steps and guiding me through how I can prevent them from happening again in the future. The helpful bitch.

“She’s always been like this. When I got dumped she was all kind and sympathetic, and when I got passed over for promotion she pointed out that the role would have been more stress than it’s worth. Can’t she be a bitter hag like me for a second?

“It’s got to the point where I want to scream in her face, but even then she’d probably be really understanding and offer useful feedback. I’m starting to question why I’m even friends with her.”

Shaw said: “That vein on Karen's temple is really starting to throb. I better advise her to drink some herbal tea, that’ll calm her down.”

https://bit.ly/4pyvywV

20/09/2025

Saturday 20 September Dessalines Birthday in Haiti
The Haitian Revolution is regarded as the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. The rebellion against French authority began in 1791. Toussaint Louverture emerged as the leader of the revolt against the French. Napoleon sent troops to the colony to restore French authority and Louverture was captured in 1802 and died in a French jail in 1803.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a lieutenant to Louverture, then took the leadership of the revolution, defeating French troops at the Battle of Vertières on November 18th 1803. France then withdrew its remaining 7,000 troops from the island.

On January 1st 1804, in the city of Gonaïves, Dessalines officially declared the former colony's independence as a free republic, renaming it "Haiti" after its indigenous name. He also freed all slaves making Haiti the first country in the Americas to permanently abolish slavery. Though it wasn't all good news for the former slaves, who either had to continue to work on the plantations or join his army.

It was also in 1804 that Dessalines showed the extent of his bloodthirst, massacring all the French people on the island, resulting in the deaths of up to 5,000 people.

Dessalines became the first Emperor of Haiti in October 1804. He was made Emperor for life in 1805, which proved accurate but short-lived as he was assassinated by his political rivals in October 1806.

Despite his impressive achievements in driving his country to independence, if you were to travel back to Haiti in the 19th century, you might be surprised to find that Dessalines was a far from popular figure and that his reputation was that of a tyrant. It was only in the 20th century, that his legacy as an icon of nationalism and a founding father was developed. His rehabilitation was complete by 1903, when the national anthem of Haiti, "La Dessalinienne", was named in his honour.

https://bit.ly/3Ihap9P

19/09/2025

White-collar worker fantasising about manual job he wouldn’t last five minutes in
A PAMPERED office worker is daydreaming of ditching his desk job for manual labour that would immediately destroy him.

IT worker Joseph, not his real name, whose most strenuous daily task involves adjusting his ergonomic chair, is idly fantasising about ruining his fragile body by becoming something more manly like a welder, bricklayer or hod carrier.

He said: “Working in a role that won’t wreck me by the time I’m 40 is fine enough. But there’s something truly noble about lugging around sacks of concrete while being shouted at by a guy called Gaz.

“Slowly responding to tickets in a condescending manner while putting minimal strain on my joints doesn’t command the same respect as toiling away on a construction site. Plus the banter is just memes sent over Slack, and none of it’s delightfully problematic.

“Admittedly, I don’t own a toolbox and my soft, delicate hands have never even changed a lightbulb, but how punishing can bone-grinding manual labour actually be? I did the first week of Couch to 5K a couple of years ago which shows I’m physically capable.

“Oh, who am I kidding, I just want to be paid to read the Sunday Sport in a van.”

Plasterer Wayne, not his real name, said: “Joseph’s welcome to swap with me. I’ve always fantasised about earning sh*tloads for telling people to restart their computers.”

https://bit.ly/48mU3a6

19/09/2025

Friday 19 September Constitution Day in Nepal
This holiday was first observed in 2016 on the first anniversary of the promulgation of the new Constitution.

Nepal is governed according to the Constitution which came into effect on September 20th 2015, replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007.

This was the first full-fledged constitution to be drafted by democratically elected representatives after the South Asian country became a federal democratic republic in 2008 following the overthrow of the 240-year monarchy. The process to enact a new Constitution has been a drawn-out one, with several efforts to produce a new Constitution drafted since 2008.

The 2015 Constitution restructured Nepal into a federal republic, dividing the nation into seven provinces, some of which are still named by their temporary numbers.

It also completed the transition of Nepal from constitutional monarchy to republicanism and from a unitary system to federalism.

In 2019, at the Army parade ground, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the day should create a feeling of celebration among all Nepalis.

“We Nepalis were starving for this day for the past seven decades. The day when we were liberated from suppression is also an independence day and a day to celebrate our achievements,” Oli said.

As a new holiday with no historical traditions, the government has been pushing this as a holiday with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration having to issue notifications urging all district coordination committees and local levels to celebrate the upcoming Constitution Day with "pomp and grandeur".

https://bit.ly/3KaLWDO

18/09/2025

Thursday 18 September Independence Day in Chile
On September 18th 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring their independence. The Spanish had ruled Chile since the middle of the 16th Century. The movement to independence had been driven by other South American countries revolting against colonial rule, the French and Spanish warring in Europe and the appointment of an unpopular Governor in 1808.

While Chileans celebrate their independence on September 18th, their declaration in 1810 was the start of a long struggle and the Chilean war of Independence lasted for eight years before Chile could officially proclaim independence on February 12th 1818. Indeed, it wasn't until 1826 when the last Spanish troops holding out on a remote island finally surrendered to Chilean forces.

At 7,500 feet, (2,286 metres) above sea level, Chile’s Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth.

With Independence Day being immediately followed by another public holiday (Day of the Glories of the Chilean Army), the whole week around these two days tends to be a period of celebration. Many schools and some companies will declare a week-long holiday.

The events around the struggle for Independence are remembered with the 'Fiestas Patrias' (national parties). These fiestas include parades (often including 'huasos', the traditional Chilean cowboys), dancing, partying, traditional Chilean food, and displays of national pride.

https://bit.ly/46biXbw

17/09/2025

Massive di****ad weirdly successful with women
A GROUP of office workers is genuinely puzzled by the relationship success of a total dickwad they work with, it has emerged.

Colleagues cannot comprehend how sales executive Tom, not his real name, consistently attracts girlfriends despite his seemingly female-unfriendly interests of cars, Maxim magazine and fart-related humour.

Co-worker Emma, not her real name, said: “He once talked to me for 15 minutes about his new tyres without noticing I’d put my earphones in.

“Weirdly though I quite like him, even though I hate myself for it. Maybe it’s a masochistic thing.”

Fellow colleague Martin, not his real name, said: “My theory was that Tom behaves totally differently in front of women he wants to impress, but I’ve seen him trying to chat someone up by asking ‘What’s your best Top Gear episode?’.

“Also his sense of humour exclusively involves farts. If you find the expressions ‘silent but violent’ or ‘letting off an eggy one’ completely hilarious he’s your dream date.

“I guess his appeal is one of those unsolved mysteries of life, like the Bermuda Triangle or how they built those Inca temples.”

https://bit.ly/4mlc8c3

17/09/2025

Wednesday 17 September National Heroes' Day in Angola
In the 1950s, while other European countries were starting to retreat from their colonies in Africa, Portugal under the leadership of the dictator António Salazar, was doubling down on its territories, planning industrialisation to extract as much wealth as possible.

This colonial approach enraged many young Africans, such as António Agostinho Neto, a doctor who had been involved in (and imprisoned for) political activities against the Salazar regime.

After two years of detention in Cape Verde and Portugal, Neto escaped to Morocco where he joined the Angolan liberation movement. In 1962 he became president of the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA).

As president of the MPLA, he was a figurehead for the protracted and violent struggle to break free from Portuguese colonial rule.

When the People's Republic of Angola gained independence from Portugal in November 1975, he became the country's first president serving until his death on September 10th 1979.

His obituary in the Times of London called him "a man of outstanding intellectual abilities who took advantage of the opportunities offered by the colonial authorities to emerge as their principal opponent."

https://bit.ly/3Is5ToS

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