Remembering a Renaissance with a
Smile
Rebirth. Revival. Resurgence.
Revitalization. All great words. But none with such meaning as a renaissance or
two …
QUINCENTENARY [kwin senʹtɘ ner ē; kwinʹsen tenʹɘr ē) adj. – of a 500th anniversary (also quincentennial). [WW #216]
For many, quincentenary is
self-explanatory; but for those who don’t wallow in numbers and/or history
every day, it’s a bulky word for recognizing a 500th anniversary.
Just for fun, what quincentennial celebrations make 2019 a banner year? Parlez-vous Français?
France, infinitely older than America,
is celebrating more than one quincentenary of note. The most venerable
is
Continuing
in the name of art and all things creative and inventive, pick your French Renaissance 500th anniversary party!
From the rebirth of art to new
developments in science, technology, literature, and society’s finer etiquette.
During this period (roughly 1494-1610), France exploded with exploration in all
forms of the imagination.
If we’re still around in 2350, will
we be celebrating or damning the quincentenary “renaissance” of the
world that largely began in the 1850s? If not considered a revival, we certainly
capitalized
on French Renaissance advances.
Not to be outdone, in other elder
countries:
Ø
March 2019: England’s oldest horse race , the Kiplingcotes Derby in Market Weighton, nearly faltered in its efforts in
2018 to retain its quincentenary status. Because its course was too rain-soaked
for horses to race safely, a “solitary volunteer had to walk a
horse along the route to keep alive the ancient tradition, dating back to 1519.”
Ø November 2019: Havana, Cuba gets its mojo on to celebrate its 500th
anniversary with tons of touristy stuff to entice visitors. After a couple of
years of restorations, luxury hotel launches and festival preparations, they’re
ready for you!
Word Challenge: QUINCENTENARY. Relish America’s youth,
but revere what came before us, as you slip quincentenary into your week of historical writing.
Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening!
Expanding your mind is a no-cost, simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s
your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.
Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle)
[LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by
trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of
three) in her Blast from Your Past series about pioneering R&R Radio DJs. The true behind-the-mic
tales make GREAT Holiday Gifts available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book
2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic
Seventies!]
E-N-Dzzzzzzzz
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