The Ten Days of Newton
Olivia Judson, author of “Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex”, argues that rather than having just one Sir Isaac Newton day we should celebrate the 10 days of Newton.
Her argument is that Newton was born on Dec 25th 1642 according to the Julian calendar, then in use in England. However, the rest of Europe was using the Gregorian calendar (the one we use today) and according to that calendar, Newton was born on Jan 4, 1643.
Rather than argue about which day to celebrate Ms Judson recommends that we celebrate all ten days between the 25th Dec to Jan 4th.
She’s even suggested a song:
On the tenth day of Newton,
My true love gave to me,
Ten drops of genius,
Nine silver co-oins,
Eight circling planets,
Seven shades of li-ight,
Six counterfeiters,
Cal-Cu-Lus!
Four telescopes,
Three Laws of Motion,
Two awful feuds,
And the discovery of gravity!
I think it could use a bit of work … Any other suggestions out there?
