Day Tripping: December 26

Lord Snow

Christopher Catesby Harington was born in 1986 in Acton, England. The son of an English Baronet, Harington is distantly related to King Charles II who was the target of the famous assassination attempt called the Gunpowder Plot. Cristopher is also related to the leader of the plot, Robert Catesby.

At fourteen, Cristopher got the acting bug when he performed in Waiting for Godot in a school production. He had originally intended to become a journalist but he attended the Central School of Speech and Drama instead, and while in school he earned a part in the National Theatre production of War Horse.

A year later, Kit Harington won the role of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. Six years into the series, Kit was reportedly the highest-paid person on British television. In 2019, he checked into a facility to deal with mental health and wellness issues.

“Politics is a game and a profession. It doesn’t really serve the people the politicians are supposed to serve.”

Kit Harrington has been active in charitable work for various children’s causes including UNHCR, the United Nations refugees agency. And he has lobbied the government for back payments to overnight caregivers.

Today is:

Kwanzaa — Since 1966, this seven-day celebration of African American heritage was founded by Ron Karenga. The Swahili translation means first fruits and signifies the Seven Principles of Blackness.

Boxing Day — Began in Britain as a tradition where servants were given gifts and served by the aristocracy that employed them.

Musical Ride

Jimi Hendrix was sitting in his dressing room between shows at the Uppercrust Club in London when he wrote the lyrics for Purple Haze in 1966.

Interesting Notes

New York Yankees owner Harry Frazee set the Curse of the Bambino in motion when he acquired the contract of Babe Ruth from Boston in 1919. The Red Sox would wait 85 years for another championship in 2004.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Known as the songwriter of People Get Ready among other hits, Curtis Mayfield was a major musical influence on future stars, Jimi Hendrix, Tracy Chapman, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. Mayfield was paralyzed in a freak stage accident in 1990 but continued to compose and sing, and remained a civil rights activist until his death in 1999 at the age of 57.

Notable Births

1927 — Alan King: “A summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat!”

1939 — Phil Spector: “I felt obligated to change music to art, the same way that Galileo proved the Earth was round to the world and that the Sun did not stand still.”

K. Barrett Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Terry Trueman Dr. Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca Holly Kellums Michael Burg, MD Lucy Dan Dave Logan

All previous Day Tripping entries are available at the following links:

The Story Of Day Tripping Through History What’s Past Is Often Present

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