10 GREAT FACTS A DAY - Part 218 (08/04/2014)

2171.            The Anglo-Saxons believed Friday to be such an unlucky day that they ritually
    slaughtered any child unfortunate enough to be born on that day.

2172.            There are more than 5,662 written Han Chinese surnames.

2173.            The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher.

2174.            In 1647 the English Parliament abolished Christmas.

2175.            In many Asian countries such as Papua New Guinea, the toilet as it is known in
    Western countries is nonexistent. Instead, the porcelain bowl is set flush with the
    floor with footholds on either side. One must squat in order to use it properly.

2176.            The Dutch in general prefer their french fries with mayonnaise.

2177.            Ukrainian Christmas trees are often decorated with a fake spider and web.
    Whoever finds the web on Christmas morning is bestowed with good luck.

2178.            About 1/2 of American men enjoy money more than sex.

2179.            A eunuch is a castrated man; the term usually refers to those castrated in order to
    perform a specific social function, as was common in many societies of the past.
    In ancient China castration was both a traditional punishment (until the Sui Dynasty)
    and a means of gaining employment in the Imperial service. At the end of the Ming
    Dynasty there were 70,000 eunuchs in the Imperial palace. Certain eunuchs gained
    immense power that may have superseded the prime minister. Because of this
    self-castration had to be made illegal. The number of eunuchs in Imperial employ
    had fallen to 470 in 1912, when their employment ceased.

2180.         In China, the Five Confucius Bonds are foundations of society consisting of the
    relationships of emperor-subject, father-son, husband-wife, elder brother-younger
    brother, and friend-friend, with the first half of each pair being the superior figure.