🎾Про теннис
Неотъемлемой частью английского лета является игра в теннис. Именно благодаря англичанам он стал таким, каким мы знаем его сегодня. Накануне финала Уимблдона поговорим с вами про историю этой захватывающей игры.
Игру с мячом — jeu de paume (от фр. букв. «Игра ладонью») — придумали французские монахи в XI в., это предок тенниса. Эволюция игры выглядела так: в начале мяч отбивали рукой, затем появились перчатки, биты и, наконец, в XVI веке, ракетки и сетка.
Игра была распространена сначала среди французской знати, а потом и английской и испанской. Она даже начинает называться "real tennis"(букв. "королевская игра"). Проводилась она в закрытых залах с использованием специальных ракеток и мячей, которые были наполнены шерстью или конским волосом.
Среди английских королей Генрих VIII (1509–1547) стал первым, кто начал увлекаться теннисом. В 1530 году для него построили корт в загородном дворце недалеко от Лондона — Хэмптон-Корте (Hampton Court). Считается, что его вторая жена, Анна Болейн, смотрела игру, когда её арестовали. А Генриху, в свою очередь, пришло известие о её казни пока он играл.
Теннис упоминается Шекспиром в одной из его исторических хроник "Генрих V" (1599), где французский дофин в насмешку присылает молодому английскому королю бочонок теннисных мячей.
В Англии в конце XIX века из "real tennis" вышел новый вид спорта, в который можно было играть на открытом воздухе — современный тенис. Первый свод правил составил майор Уолтер Уингфилд / Walter Wingfield. Он придумал игру для развлечения гостей на приёмах в своём особняке в Уэльсе и в 1873, и запатентовал её годом позже с несколько иными правилами, чем было принято ранее.
Теперь она предназначалась не для закрытых площадок и залов, а для травяных лужаек. Перенос игры с твёрдых полов на траву стал возможен благодаря двум обстоятельствам — появлению английского газона с коротко подстриженной травой и вулканизации, которая сделала возможным выпуск резиновых мячей, отскакивающих практически от любой поверхности. Игра получила название лаун-теннис (англ. lawn tennis, букв. теннис для лужаек).
Уже в 1875 году разработанные Уингфилдом правила были изменены — новый свод правил был разработан в Марилебонском крикетном клубе. В июле 1877 года в Уимблдоне был проведён первый турнир по лаун-теннису, организатором которого стал All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club / Всеанглийский клуб лаун-тенниса и крокета.
Почти 30 лет спустя Уимблдон посетили первые члены королевской семьи: будущий король Георг V с супругой. Им так понравилось, что в 1907 году наследник стал президентом клуба. С тех пор участие члена Королевской семьи в деятельности клуба, будь то в качестве президента или покровителя, стало неотъемлемым. Принцесса Уэльская Кэтрин стала президентом AELTC в 2021 году.
О популярности тенниса во всём мире в конце XIX века свидетельствует тот факт, что в 1896 году он был включён в программу первых Олимпийских игр современности вместе с 8 другими видами спорта.
Доминирование Великобритании, Франции, США и Австралии в довоенном мировом теннисе привело к тому, что именно турниры, проводимые в этих странах, стали наиболее престижными. Четыре самых крупных турнира — Уимблдонский турнир / Wimbledon, Ролан Гаррос / Roland Garros, Открытый чемпионат США / US Open и Открытый чемпионат Австралии / Australian Open.
Завтра поговорим о теннисной терминологии и правилах счёта🎾
#culture#history
🎬Jock the Hero Dog (2011)
🗓Year of Production: 2011
🌍Countries: South Africa, USA
🎭Genres: Adventure, Family, Comedy
The animated film tells the story of Jock, a lovable and courageous puppy who is the smallest and weakest of his litter. Through a series of thrilling adventures and challenges, he grows into a strong, brave, and loyal companion — becoming the best friend his young owner could ever have.
The film holds a special place in South African cinema history as the country’s first full-length 3D-animated feature film.
It is inspired by the 1907 novel Jock of the Bushveld by Sir James Percy FitzPatrick, a classic of South African literature.
📹 Official trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G88q7LzmUxk
#Culture#History
🔨 Restoration of the monumen Puputan Badung completed in Bali
The grand reopening took place today.
📍 In the center of Denpasar, at the zero-kilometer point, the iconic Puputan Monument — three warriors with raised weapons — has been refurbished.
🛡 It symbolizes the final battle of the Badung people against colonizers: a “fight to the very end.”
#places#history#culture@BaliNews
🚶Walking tours of the historic center of Bali's capital city have appeared
🐲 The Denpasar City Tourist Office recently announced that in addition to horse-drawn carriage tours, there will now be walking routes in the historic center. This is a new way to learn about the history of the Island of the Gods and immerse yourself in local culture and customs.
📍 The historic district of Gadjah Mada, the so-called Old Town. It has a rich history and is still a lively part of the capital city.
🖥 Tours are now available every Friday and Saturday, also in English. In order to sign up, you need to fill in the form on the website.
@BaliNews
#wheretogo#history#culture
🇿🇦Graaff-Reinet, the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest in South Africa, is a historic gem in the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region. 🏜️
🏛️ Founded in 1786 by Governor Cornelius Jacob van de Graaff, the town was named after him and his wife Cornelia Reinet. Today, with a population of about 35,000, it boasts remarkable architectural heritage: more than 200 National Monument buildings, a restored 19th-century street, and the Reinet House Museum, home to one of the largest and oldest grapevines in the world. 🍇
🌄 Surrounded by Camdeboo National Park, the town offers breathtaking views of the Valley of Desolation, rich wildlife, and outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and game viewing.
🦉 Just a few kilometers away lies the village of Nieu-Bethesda, famous for the Owl House, adding yet another layer to the region’s unique charm.
📸Photos: View of Graaff-Reinet, the Reinet House Museum, the Valley of Desolation
#Tourism#History#Culture
Graaff-Reinet, the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest in South Africa, is a historic gem in the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region.
Founded in 1786 by Governor Cornelius Jacob van de Graaff, the town was named after him and his wife, Cornelia Reinet. Today, with the population of 35,000, it boasts over 200 National Monument buildings, a restored 19th-century street, and the Reinet House Museum, home to one of the world’s largest living grapevines.
Surrounded by Camdeboo National Park, the town offers breathtaking views of the Valley of Desolation, rich wildlife, and outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and game viewing. Nearby, Nieu-Bethesda’s Owl House adds to the area’s charm, making Graaff-Reinet a must-visit destination.
📷Photos: View of Graaff-Reinet, the Graaff-Reinet Museum, the Valley of Desolation
#Tourism#History#Culture
🇿🇦Freedom Day in South Africa
🗓April 27 marks one of South Africa’s most important public holidays — Freedom Day.
It commemorates the country’s first democratic, non-racial elections held in 1994 after the end of apartheid.
On that historic day, Nelson Mandela was elected President.
🗳 For the first time, all citizens aged 18 and older, regardless of race, were allowed to vote.
Under apartheid, voting rights for non-white populations were severely restricted.
🌍Freedom Day symbolizes the end of colonialism and apartheid, and the beginning of a new democratic era in South Africa.
📹 Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OKB8EoVqWc.
#AboutSA#History#Culture
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👨👩👧👦Family Day in South Africa — a celebration of togetherness
🇿🇦 In South Africa, Family Day is observed the day after Easter Sunday. It’s a warm and meaningful holiday dedicated to spending time with loved ones.
🗓 Established in 1995, it ensures that every family—regardless of religion or background—has a special day to be together. Previously, this day was known as Easter Monday.
❗️The date changes every year, depending on when Easter falls.
📹 Want to learn more? Watch this short video with subtitles:
👉All About Family Day
#Culture#History#AboutSA
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✝️ Easter Sunday in South Africa
🎶 A choir praises Christ at the entrance to Company’s Garden—one of the most atmospheric historic spots in Cape Town.
🌿 The garden was established in the 1650s by the Dutch East India Company to supply fresh produce to settlers and passing ships.
Today, the Company’s Garden is the oldest garden in the country—a green oasis in the city center and an important heritage site.
📹 Video:
https://t.me/MAKAPOBAtravel/1507
#Culture#History#AboutSA
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👨👩👧👦 Family Day is a warm and meaningful holiday celebrated in South Africa the day after Easter Sunday.
📅 It was established in 1995 to give every South African family—regardless of religion or background—a special day to spend with loved ones. Before that, the day was celebrated as Easter Monday.
❗️Its date changes each year, depending on when Easter falls.
🎬 Curious to learn more? Watch this short, subtitled video:
👉All About Family Day
#Culture#History#AboutSA
🗓 April 4 marks the birthday of Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (1939 – 2018), an iconic South African trumpeter, composer, singer, and cultural activist, nicknamed "the father of South African jazz." 🎺
🎷 Masekela was renowned for his jazz compositions and powerful anti-apartheid songs. One of his most famous pieces, Grazing in the Grass, became a number-one hit in the US in 1968! 🎶
👉 Listen here
🔍 Fun Facts:
🔹Hugh Masekela started playing the trumpet at 14 after watching the movie Young Man with a Horn.
🔹The legendary American musician Louis Armstrong played a pivotal role in helping Hugh Masekela acquire his first trumpet after discovering the young talent and arranging for the instrument to be sent to him. 🎺
📖 Quote:
💬 "I always believed that the world’s leaders should get rid of nuclear bombs, and they should all sit around and drink beer and eat chicken and listen to good music." — Hugh Masekela 🌍🎶
#People#Culture#History
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📚🇿🇦March 24 marks the birthday of Olive Schreiner (1855–1920)
Olive Emily Albertina Schreiner was one of the most remarkable intellectuals of her time — a writer, thinker, and social activist.
✍️ Writing in English, she became known for her works and essays addressing major social and political issues.
🌍Ahead of her time, she explored:
● socialism;
● feminism and women’s rights;
● pacifism;
● vegetarianism.
🤝 Schreiner advocated for diverse communities in South Africa — including Afrikaners, Black South Africans, Indians, and Jews.
✨ Her legacy goes beyond literature, contributing to humanist thought and social progress.
MAX | VK
#People#History#Culture
🗓 March 4 — Honoring Miriam Makeba (1932–2008)
🎶 Miriam Makeba, known worldwide as “Mama Africa,” was a Grammy Award–winning South African singer and civil rights activist who introduced global audiences to African music. In the 1960s, she became the first African artist to achieve major international fame.
After publicly condemning apartheid, South Africa revoked her citizenship in 1963. She lived in exile for nearly 30 years and returned home only in 1990, as apartheid began to collapse.
🔎Interesting Facts:
🔹 In 1963, she became the first black woman to address the United Nations, speaking out against apartheid.
🔹 Her hit Pata Pata remains one of the most recognizable songs in African popular music.
🔹The Click Song earned its Western nickname from the distinctive click sounds found in Xhosa and Zulu languages. Traditionally, it was performed at weddings.
🗣 Quotes:
● “I kept my culture. I kept the music of my roots.”
● “Girls are the future mothers of our society, and it is important that we focus on their well-being.”
📺 Watch:
The Click Song — https://youtu.be/DEmdSFzSsnk
🎤 Enjoy Pata Pata in the post above — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNeP3hrm__k
#Culture#History#People