Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 April 8

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
The Biddenden Maids, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, were conjoined twins supposedly born in the village of Biddenden, Kent, in the year 1100. It is claimed that they were joined at both the shoulder and the hip, and that on their death they bequeathed land to the village. The income from this land was used to pay for a gift of food and drink to the poor every Easter. Since at least 1775 this has included hard biscuits imprinted with an image of two conjoined women, known as "Biddenden cakes". Some historians dismissed the story as a folk myth, claiming that the image on the cakes had originally represented two poor women and that the story of the conjoined twins was invented to account for it. Despite doubts as to its authenticity, in the 19th century the legend became increasingly popular and the village of Biddenden was thronged with rowdy visitors every Easter. In 1907 the land supposedly bequeathed by the twins was sold. The income from the sale allowed the annual distribution of gifts to expand in scale, providing the widows and pensioners of Biddenden with cheese, bread and tea at Easter and with cash payments at Christmas. Biddenden cakes continue to be given to the poor of Biddenden each Easter Monday, and are sold as souvenirs to visitors. (more...) Recently featured: Madagascan sunset moth – Offa of Mercia – Zodiac Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that in hot weather, the eastern spadefoot toad (pictured) may aestivate in the deep burrow it has dug? ... that John Garrels of the 1906 Michigan football team threw the school's first legal forward pass, won Olympic medals in the hurdles and shot put, and set a world record in the discus throw? ... that the 2002 funeral of John Entwistle, bassist for rock band The Who, was held at St Edward's Church in Stow-on-the-Wold? ... that Danville, Kentucky's Constitution Square State Historic Site features a replica of the first Presbyterian meetinghouse in the state? ... that in the 2011–12 Logan Cup, the Matabeleland Tuskers cricket team became the first to win consecutive titles during the franchise era of the competition? ... that Jamila and the President, submitted to the 82nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, was initially written after the director received a UNICEF grant? ... that celebrity chef and baker Paul Hollywood created what is thought to be the most expensive loaf of bread in Britain? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
An avalanche strikes a Pakistan Army base in Siachen, burying at least 135 soldiers in snow. Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika (pictured) dies at the age of 78. Mali's Azawad National Liberation Movement claims military victory and declares independent the new state of Azawad. Following an allegation of academic misconduct, Pál Schmitt resigns as President of Hungary. UTair Flight 120 crashes shortly after take-off from Roshchino International Airport, Tyumen, Russia, killing 32 people. The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, wins a majority of contested seats in the Burmese by-elections. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
April 8: Easter (Western Christianity, 2012) 1341 – Italian scholar and poet Petrarch took the title poet laureate at a ceremony in Rome. 1820 – A Greek peasant discovered a statue of a woman with its arms missing—the Venus de Milo (pictured)—on the Aegean island of Milos. 1886 – Prime Minister William Gladstone introduced the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons. 1904 – Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, was renamed Times Square after The New York Times building. 1968 – BOAC Flight 712 suffered an engine fire shortly after take-off from London Heathrow Airport, leading to deaths of five people on board, including flight attendant Barbara Jane Harrison, who was later awarded a posthumous George Cross for her heroism during the accident. 1992 – American tennis player Arthur Ashe announced that he had contracted HIV from blood transfusions; he would spend the remainder of his life as an AIDS activist. More anniversaries: April 7 – April 8 – April 9 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now April 8, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

An 1880 Baxter process colour plate illustrating Revelation 22:17 from the Bible, in which the Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ give access to the Water of Life to those who have survived the cataclysmic events described in the book. The text reads, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." The Bride is usually taken to mean the Christian Church, but other interpretations exist.

Image: Joseph Martin Kronheim; Restoration: Adam Cuerden

Recently featured: Upland Sandpiper – Elegant sunburst lichen – Battenberg Mausoleum

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.