English TOPICAL JOURNEY

38 Famous Families

January 2013

FAMOUS FAMILY MOTTOS

Throughout history, famous families have risen and fallen with their times. However, some families impact on their societies and history as a whole gives us cause to remember both them and their family mottos. Here are famous families whose mottos are still recognised today, even if their time has long passed.

Medici

One of the most famous families in history, the

Medici family motto is still quoted today: “Money to get power, and power to guard the money.” Founding a bank in Florence, Giovanni de Medici became an extremely wealthy and powerful patriarch of a family that ruled Italy for the better part of three centuries. Used in reference to those who would gain wealth at any cost, the Medici family motto reflects the culture of greed that permeated their famous line of rulers. Founding their own dynasty in Florence, the Medici family eventually assumed the air of royalty and were responsible for the rise of four Popes to power.

Windsor

One of the most famous families in the world is the royal family of England, the Windsors. The origins of the Windsor family can be traced back to the Norman Conquest. Thus the family motto was written in French: “Je me fie en Dieu.” This translates as “I trust in God” or “I put my trust in God.” Records of the family motto go back to the 14th and 15th centuries and it is considered to have originally been a war cry for the family.

Although not always displayed with the family’s coat of arms, it is still used to this day to represent the House of Windsor and to reflect its religious heritage and faith.

Kennedy

Originally of Scotch and Irish decent, the Kennedy family was considered to be a clan in the familial system of Scottish heritage. Like many other Scottish families that were influenced by French settlers during the 16th century, the Kennedy family motto is in French: “Avise La Fin” which translates as “Consider the End.” The Kennedy family has a distinguished history of statesmanship and their motto comes as a fitting thought for those engaged in diplomacy. The Kennedy motto – like those of all Scottish clans – is displayed on the family’s clan badge. Clan badges always include the motto and are incorporated with the image of a belt, with the motto written on the topmost part of the belt.

The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was a European royal house of Welsh origin descended from Prince Rhys ap Tewdwr that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms, including the Lordship of Ireland, later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch was Henry VII, a descendant through his mother of a legitimised branch of the English royal House of Lancaster. The Tudor family rose to power in the wake of the Wars of the Roses, which left the House of Lancaster, to which the Tudors were aligned.

In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the IrishAmericans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the Democratic Party. Harvard University educations have been common among them, and they have contributed heavily to that university’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. The wealth, glamour and

photogenic quality of the family members, as well as their extensive and continuing involvement in public service, has elevated them to iconic status over the past half-century.

The Vanderbilt family is an American family of railroad notability who became socially prominent during the first half of the nineteenth-century. The family’s fortune was established by the shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, and eventually expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy through the 20th century. Cornelius Vanderbilt’s son and heir, William Henry Vanderbilt,

expanded the fortune, becoming the richest man in the world by the time of his death in 1877. His descendants built great mansions in New York, Newport, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Vermont, Massachusetts and various other exclusive homes. The family’s prominence lasted until the late 20th century. Most of the family’s Fifth Avenue mansions were torn down, and other Vanderbilt homes have been sold or turned into museums. Collectively, the Vanderbilts are the seventh wealthiest family

in history. The family surname is of Dutch origin.

The Tagore family, with over three hundred years of history, has been one of the leading families of Calcutta, and is regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance. The family has produced several persons who have contributed substantially in the fields of business, social and religious reformation, literature, art and music.

Sources: www.ehow.com

						English
		TOPICAL JOURNEY
Wedding History						39
						January 2013
The Wedding				WHITE WEDDING
The wedding is one of life’s primeval and surprisingly unchanged rites
of passage. Nearly all of the customs we observe today are merely echoes				DRESS
of the past. Everything from the veil, rice, flowers, and old shoes, to the				White has long been ac-
bridesmaids and processionals, at one time, bore a very specific and vitally				cepted as the traditional color
significant meaning. Today, although the original substance is often lost,				of the wedding dress, but
we incorporate old world customs into our weddings because they are				wedding gowns were not al-
				ways white. The marriage of
traditional and ritualistic.
				Queen Victoria to her cousin
Old world marriage customs continue to thrive today, in diluted,
				Albert of SaxeCoburg in
disguised and often upgraded forms. Customs we memorialize today were
				1840 has had more influ-
once “brand new” ideas. Although historical accuracy is hard to achieve,				ence on weddings than any
the historical weight attached to old world wedding customs and traditions				other. Queen Victoria put the
is immense. While reading through these pages, feel free to use, reinterpret,				wheels in motion by marrying
or omit them in your own wedding.				in white. Though brides con-
Remember, as you plan for your wedding, to create new family traditions				tinued to wed in gowns of dif-
				ferent colors, white was now
and customs to be handed down to your children and their children. Just
				set as the color of choice for
think, maybe someday, your “new custom” will be as unique and exciting
				weddings and has continued
as these presented here.
				ever since. In Godey’s Lady’s
Wedding History				Book, 1849, this statement
				was printed: “ Custom has
Up to and during the Middle Ages, weddings were considered family/				decided, from the earliest
				ages, that white is the most
community affairs. The only thing needed to create a marriage was for both
		fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an
partners to state their consent to take one another as spouses. Witnesses were not always
		emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood,
necessary, nor were the presence of the clergy. In Italy, for example, the marriage was		and the unsullied heart she now yields to the
divided into three parts. The first portion consisted of the families of the groom and bride		chosen one.”
drawing up the papers. The bride didn’t even have to be there for that. The second, the		There is an old poem about how the color of
betrothal, was legally binding and may or may not have involved consummation. At this		your wedding dress will influence your future:
celebration, the couple exchanged gifts (a ring, a piece of fruit, etc.), clasped hands and		“Married in white, you will have chosen all right.
		Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in
exchanged a kiss. The “vows” could be a simple as, “Will you marry me?” “I will.” The
		black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red,
third part of the wedding, which could occur several years after the betrothal, was the
		you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you
removal of the bride to the groom’s home. The role of the clergy at a medieval wedding
		will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in
was simply to bless the couple. It wasn’t official church policy until the council of Trent		a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen,
in the 15th century that a third party (i.e., a priest), as opposed to the couple themselves,		Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married
was responsible for performing the wedding. In the later medieval period, the wedding		in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink,
ceremony moved from the house of the bride to the church. It began with a procession		your spirits will sink.”
to the church from the bride’s house. Vows were exchanged outside the church (by the		WEDDING MYTHS QUIZ
way, the priest gave the bride to the groom...I don’t think she was presented by her
father) and then everyone moved inside for Mass. After Mass, the procession went back		Here comes the bride, all dressed in...blue? Why
to the bride’s house for a feast. Musicians accompanied the procession.		do	brides	wear white, nyway? Take this quiz
		and see if you know the truth behind wedding
Wedding Flowers		traditions associated with tying the knot.
		1.	T/F	Rice should not be thrown at weddings
Before the use of flowers in the bridal bouquet, women carried aromatic bunches
of garlic, herbs, and grains to drive evil spirits away as they walked down the aisle.		2.	because it is potentially harmful to birds.
Over time, these were replaced with flowers, symbolizing fertility and everlasting love.			T/F	The tradition of	the white wedding
			dress dates back hundreds of years.
Specific flowers have special meanings in many cultures.
		3.	T/F	June is by far the most popular month
The Bouquet			for weddings.
		4.	T/F	Saturday is the unluckiest day to get
The earth laughs in flowers;		5.	married, according to English folklore.
A flower is love looking for a word.			T/F	Engagement and wedding rings are
			worn on the fourth finger of the left hand be-
At its inception, the bouquet formed part of the wreaths and garlands worn by both
			cause it was once believed that this finger
the bride and groom. It was considered a symbol of happiness. Originally bridal wreaths
			had a vein that led directly to the heart.
and bouquets were made of herbs, which had magical and meaningful definitions for the		6.	T/F	Valentine’s Day is the most popular
couple’s future life. Traditional Celtic bouquets included ivy, thistle and heather. Ancient			time of year for marriage proposals.
uses included herbs, not flowers, in bouquets because they felt herbs – especially garlic		7.	T/F	Saturday, July 7, was the most sought-
– had the power to cast off evil spirits (can you imagine walking up the aisle holding a			after wedding date for 2007.
clump of garlic!?). If a bride carried sage (the herb of wisdom) she became wise; if she		8.	T/F	The white wedding dress traditionally
carried dill (the herb of lust) she became lusty. Flower girls carried sheaves of wheat,			symbolizes the virginity of the bride.
		9.	T/F	The tradition of the diamond engage-
a symbol of growth, fertility, and renewal. Later, flowers replaced herbs and took on
			ment ring began as a 20th-century market-
meanings all their own. Orange blossoms, for example, mean happiness and fertility.
			ing campaign by the diamond industry.
Ivy means fidelity; lilies mean purity.		10.	T/F	Many vendors – such as caterers, flo-
			rists, and photographers – charge more for
http://www.brideandgroom.com			weddings than they do for other events.

English TOPICAL JOURNEY

40 What Would Mother Think?

January 2013

“All the mothers in this quiz had children who made a name for themselves one way or another. How many of them do you recognise from my clues?”

1.We will never know what Klara Pölzl would have thought about her fourth child’s rise to fame, as she died when he was just eighteen years old. He was one of four boys and two girls born to Klara and her husband Alois between 1885 and 1896. Only two of the six siblings lived to adult-

hood, and daughter Paula died in 1960. Who was the son of Klara, and brother of Paula, who made history?

a) Friedrich Nietzsche	c) Sigmund Freud
b) Erwin Rommel	d) Adolf Hitler

2.Corsican Maria Letizia Ramolino never went to school, and she was married when she was aged just fourteen. She gave birth to thirteen children over the next twenty years, of whom eight survived into adulthood. By dint of her third son’s rise to fame, many of his siblings also found high positions and wealth, and they are remembered as a history making dynasty. Given her title of “Madame Mère de l’Empéreur” we can surmise that she was proud of her most famous son. Who was he?

a) Charlemagne	c) Otto I
b) Justinian	d) Napoleon I

3.This mother had ten children in total, from two marriages. After the annulment of her first marriage, custody of her two daughters was awarded to their father, and she was forced to leave them behind when she eventually wound up living in another country. Two of her daughters were to become queens, and three of her sons were crowned as King of England; we know she thought highly of her sons,

and poorly of her second husband, as she led four of them in rebellion against their father. Who was she?

a) Mathilda of Anjou	c) Isabella of Blois
b) Phillippa of Hainault	d) Eleanor of Aquitaine

4. A woman called Putlibai was the fourth wife of her husband Karamchand, and raised their son in the Jain traditions of the area where they lived. Her son would one day become known worldwide and be called “Bapu” or “Father” in their native language, but she died before this happened. Sometimes called “The Father of the Nation”, who was her son?

a) Gengis Khan	c) Hirohito of Japan
b) Siddharta Gautama	d) Mohandas Gandhi

5.Jennie Jerome, of Rochester, New York, was a wealthy and beautiful socialite who went on to marry the son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough. She had two children, although the parentage of the youngest, John, has been the subject of much conjecture over the years as she was (in)famous for her extra-marital affairs! Her oldest child played a pivotal role in historic events that changed the world, and she was one of their most ardent supporters throughout. Who was her first born child?

a) Neil Armstrong	c) Amelia Earhart
b) Winston Churchill	d) Wallis Simpson

6.Although she was born Kattie B. Screws, her father later changed the spelling of the family name; when she was four years old she was renamed Katherine Esther Scruse. She underwent a religious conversion when she was 35.

After her marriage at the age of nineteen, she had ten children over the next seventeen years; seven sons and three daughters. Of her nine children who survived to adulthood, it was her sixth son who garnered the most fame,

notoriety, and public attention, although all nine siblings were famous to a degree. Who was her sixth son?

a) Donny Osmond	c) Edward Kennedy
b) Michael Jackson	d) Richard Nixon

7.Vernita Lee was from a poor family who lived in Mississippi State. When she was just a teenager, a one night stand led to her giving birth to her only daughter, who she originally named for a woman she read about in her Bible. From these humble beginnings, her daughter went on to become one of the most influential women of her time,

gaining power, wealth, and fame. Who was this famous daughter?

a) Dr. Ruth Westheimer	c) Esther Williams
b) Oprah Winfrey	d) Naomi Campbell

8.Mary Maxwell was a school teacher who was eventually appointed as the first female director of the First Interstate Bank of Washington. She had three children, daughters Kristianne and Libby, and one son, William Henry. Her son was one of the founders of one of the most sucessful

	businesses ever. Which company was this?
	a) Ford Motor Company	c) McDonalds
	b) Microsoft	d) Target
9.	German born Pauline Koch married a man named Her-
	mann when she was eighteen years old, and they had a son
	and a daughter, Maria, together. Her son would grow up to
	make scientific discoveries that would change the world
	forever. Who was he?
	a) Robert Koch	c) Nils Bohr
	b) Albert Einstein	d) Erwin Schrödinger
10.	Julia Stanley had four children, one son and three daugh-
	ters, by three different	fathers. Her first husband was
	a sailor who went missing, leaving her to care for their
	young son alone. Unable to cope, Julia gave the boy into
	the care of her sister Mary, who raised him. In later life he
	was one of the most influential singer/songwriters of all
	time, revered by his fans around the world. Who was her
	famous son?
	a) Elvis Presley	c) Barry Manilow
	b) John Lennon	d) Leonard Cohen

Source: http://www.funtrivia.com

See answers on CD.