Like many things we take for granted we need to thank the Roman’s for having New Year’s Day. It was invented by a Roman general in the 1st century AD as a response to the ancient Greeks who’d recently invented New Year’s Eve and in doing so had gained a reputation as being popular party people. The general, named Partimus Drunkimus, never got invited to these January 31st night-time gatherings and so drew up plans and recipes for his own day of merriment, games, food and beverages. These quickly caught on throughout the Western World, especially his game of musical statues and his cocktail Brandy Alexandra (named in honour of Alexander The Great), which we continue to enjoy to this day. So because of jealousy we now have both New Years Day and Eve to enjoy… See you soon to discuss hangovers, in the meantime I’m rushing off to meet my best friend Boris Johnson in the pub for a game of darts. Thanks, Prof Brian Cox.

(Above) A statue of Partimus Drunkimus clutching the brandy alexandra he invented

Before the Roman’s no one had any idea about time nor had they noticed that some days were noticeably longer than others. In fact it was the ancient Greeks in about 550BC who first discovered night time, before that people were probably too dumb to care. Anyway in about 220BC a roman scientist and cloud watcher called Cumilus Nimbus noted that at on some days he could apparently watch clouds for longer than others. He got his friend, a jeweller called Timexius Swatchius, to invent the sandclock (the forebare of the egg timer) so Cumilus could time the hours in the days, and sure enough his hunch was correct. Some days were longer. After 6 years of study Mr Nimbus declared that one day in particular was longer than all the others put together, but due to human error he believed the longest day was April 14th. It wasn’t until 15AD that another scientist, and coincidentally also a cloud watcher, Stratus Fractus did further lengthy studies and correctly identified that June 21st was actually most often the longest day. To celebrate the momentus occasion, his friends Blackerus and Deckius invented the barbecue to cook food for the Gods. Mr Fractus didn’t stop with a longest day, as in later life he also discovered there was a shortest day, and he was overjoyed as that almost coincided with the birthday of his good friend and neighbour Jesus, which meant party time! So there you go, another Did You Know This fact complete. I’m off to the pub now as I’ve got a bet on with the Pet Shop Boys to see who can drink the most pints of beer in daylight hours. Thanks, Prof Brian Cox.

(Above) A Roman centurian enjoys one of the first Longest Day barbecues