By the 14th century, numerous chiefs ruled the Ryukyu Islands. In Okinawa, a new chief named Tamagusuku was unpopular among local lords, causing the island to be split into three kingdoms (Chūzan, Nanzan and Hokuzan). By the 15th century, the island was re-united, causing the Ryukyu Kingdom to be born. In the following centuries, the Ryukyu Kingdom would expand its rule over the Amami, Miyako and Yaeyama islands. They would also become a vassal state of China.
In 1609, the Japanese domain of Satsuma took over the Ryukyu Kingdom. The Amami Islands were then ruled by Satsuma, whereas the rest of the Ryukyu Kingdom was turned into a vassal.
In 1872, the Ryukyu Kingdom became the Ryūkyū Domain. In 1879, the Japanese Empire took control of the country.
After Japanese annexation happened, the local cultures and languages of Ryukyu were suppressed. Children who spoke the native Ryukyuan languages at school were punished with dialect cards.
During the Battle of Okinawa (World War II), between 40,000 to 150,000 Okinawans were killed. After World War II ended, the Ryukyu Islands were placed under American administration. The Amami Islands were returned to Japan in 1953, whereas the ofher island groups were returned in 1972.
Many Ryukyuans (especially the diaspora communities in Hawaii and Brazil) consider themselves to be different from the Japanese, who mainly inhabit the mainland (Honshū, Kyūshū, Shikoku and Hokkaidō).
On the other hand, a lot of other Ryukyuans identify as “Japanese”, which is the result of assimilation that dates back to the Meiji Era.
Historically, the Ryukyuans spoke the Ryukyuan languages. Because Japan suppressed them in the past, they are all endangered, with most speakers being elderly. A Japanese speaker wouldn’t be able to understand any of the six Ryukyuan languages without any knowledge out of it. Despite this, the Japanese government calls the Ryukyuan languages ”Japanese dialects” for political reasons. Most linguists on the other hand refer to the Ryukyuan languages as separate languages.
The native religion of the Ryukyuans is the Ryukyuan religion, an animistic faith that believes in ancestor worship. Other religions practiced in Ryukyu include Shintoism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet for Crisps
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps is a British comedy sitcom that ran from 26 February 2001 to 24 May 2011 from BBC Two. It starred Ralf Little, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Sheridan Smith, Karthyn Drysdale, Beverley Callard, and more.
Jaguar F-Type
The Jaguar F-Type (project code X152) is a two-door, two-seater sports car, manufactured by British luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover.
Ralf Little
Ralf Alastair John Little (born 8 February 1980) is an English actor, writer, and semi-professional footballer. Little is known for acting in comedy shows. He has played Antony Doyle in The Royle Family and Jenny Keogh in the BBC Two first six series of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as well as known for playing Joseph in an episode of the second season for the BBC series 'Robin Hood'.
Simon Gregson
Simon Alan Gregory (born 2 October 1974), better known by his stage name, Simon Gregson, is an English actor, known for his portrayal of Steve McDonald in the long-running ITV soap opera, "Coronation Street", from 1989 onwards. He has received 17 awards for comedy and performance, plus a Legends of Industry Award. He is a patron for Scotty's Little Soldiers.
Fiestas de San Blas y Santa Águeda (Mequinenza)
Fiestas de San Blas and Santa Águeda is a celebration of the municipality of Mequinenza in the province of Zaragoza, an autonomous community of Aragon that consists of a holiday that is part of the historical tradition of the town due to its age and continuity through time and for the originality and diversity of its acts, becoming a tourist phenomenon with great attraction of visitors. There is evidence of more than 300 years of celebration, with an active participation of the local population in both religious and festive celebrations. These parties include unique events such as the delivery of the baton, costume contests (both children and adults) as well as the elaboration of "coca" and "pa beneït". They take place during the first half of February, they are considered as the winter celebrations of the town and since 2018 they have been recognized as a Festival of Tourist Interest in Aragon.
It exists proof of at least three centuries of celebration of Saint Blas and Saint Águeda in Mequinenza, a tradition that stressed when, with the construction of the reservoir of Riba-red in the years 70, the Old Village remained under the river Ebro and the urban core of the place had to move to his current location to few kilometres water up, to river banks Segre. Historically, the procession of Saint Blas ran to charge of the men and the one of Saint Águeda to the women, but the natural evolution of the tradition has comported that in the actuality the Commissions of Saint Blas and Santa Águeda are exclusively formed by women that purchase a special leadership during the days of celebration. Saint Blas and Santa Águeda took importance during the Franco regime, since although it was forbidden to disguise, Mequinenza continued challenging the prohibition imposed by the authorities, a fact that boosted even more the popular rooting and the singular character of the tradition.
The festivity initiates with the delivery of the Clave of Control to the Commissions of Saint Blas and Santa Águeda, to continue the day 3 February with the religious celebrations of Saint Blas and the day 5 with the ones of Santa Águeda. The day concludes with the known contests of costumes artesanales for small and greater, at the same time that diverse and colourful rúas visit the population accompanied of music in direct. During the celebrations elaborate “cokes”, a sweet typical traditional to base of oil, flour and water, to which adds a secret ingredient that knows only each Commission. The process of preparation of “cokes” transmits of generation in generation through the members of the Commission of Saint Blas and Santa Águeda.
Tradition, party and colour join during the parties, filling the population during these days of national visitors and foreigners attracted by the big espectacularidad of the handmade costumes. The groups parade by the streets of the place disguised with attires of historical characters, imaginary or of fiction to rhythm of musics varied. The works of preparation of the costumes initiate months before the festivity with an intense work done entirely manually, fruit of the creativity and the wit in which it involves all the population. The festivity of Saint Blas and Santa Águeda is the expression of the collective effort and the artistic expression of all the population of Mequinenza, as well as a signal of identity and referent in all the Region of the Low/Baix Cinca.
Candy bar
A candy bar is a type of candy that has been made into the shape of a bar. The most common kind of candy bar is made with chocolate, but there may be other kinds as well, like a granola bar.
Jupiter Award (science fiction award)
The Jupiter Awards were prizes for writing science fiction. There were awards for the best novel, novella, novelette and short story. These awards were given most years from 1974 to 1978. The group called "Instructors of Science Fiction in Higher Education" gave the awards.
Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart
Robert Adam Ross Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart (26 June 1936 – 18 January 2020) was a British politician and life peer. He was the last leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from 1987 to 1988. He was the president of the Liberal Democrats from 1995 to 1998. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1966 to 2001, when he was raised to the House of Lords.
Maclennan was born in Glasgow. His father was Sir Hector MacLennan. He died in January 2020, at the age of 83.