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TIL in Russia the first day of school is called "Knowledge Day" falls on Sept 1st and is a national holiday. Kids and parents celebrate by bringing their kids to school carrying balloons and presents for their teachers, it's especially special for first graders.

Read more realrussia.co.uk

via reddit.com

wLRAo TIL about ‘Harris' List of Covent Garden Ladies’ - a book published between 1757-1795 detailing the appearance and sexual specialities of up to 190 prostitutes who worked in Covent Garden. It compliments their sexual abilities, and critiques bad habits. Harris earned the name the ‘Pimp General’
dPd7 TIL Sign language is not universal. There is about one sign language for each spoken language (and, for example, American English’ Sign Language differs from British English’ Sign Language).
EgEXW TIL that California is named after a fictitious island described in a series of 16th century Spanish romance novels. The island was described as being inhabited by beautiful black women who wore gold armor.
OKYX TIL that American soldiers used the ace of spaces as a terror weapon in the Vietnam War. They would leave the card on the bodies of killed Vietnamese and would litter the forested grounds with the card. The card was used so much that Bicycle was asked to produce crates full of this one card.
4RQ6 TIL In 2007, a Bowhead whale was discovered with the head of an explosive harpoon embedded deep under its neck blubber. The projectile was manufactured in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1890.