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13th of January - St Hilarys Day

13th of January is the 13th day of the year


St Hilarys Day:
Why on earth does a French Saint of the 4th century, who never set foot in Britain as far as is known, figure in our national calendar, and not just for those of the Roman Catholic Faith? The answer is that the day of celebration for his life by the church happens more-or-less to coincide with the beginning of both the legal term and the term starting in January at our oldest university, Oxford. Thus the first of the four legal terms is Hilary, and for students and dons of Oxford (and by academic osmosis some other venerable places of learning) returning to their labours in January they do so in Hilary Term.

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Brit Quote:
I never knew a man come to greatness or eminence who lay abed late in the morning. - Jonathan Swift
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On this day:
Massacre and Humiliation in Afghanistan - 1842, Harold Shipman hangs himself in Prison - 2004
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