Brooklyn Today for Dec. 28, 2012
Good morning. Today is the 363rd day of the year. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of Dec. 28, 1898, had an article about the custom of making “New Year’s calls.” This didn’t refer to phone calls, since very few people had phones in those days, but to visiting people on New Year’s day. Apparently, this was the one day of the year that young men could visit their “special friends” (i.e., girlfriends or would-be girlfriends) without “special permission” (from their parents).
Some young men, the article read, visiting several young ladies in one day, but saved their “best girl” for last. This custom was said to be introduced by the Dutch settlers.
Well-known people who were born today include R&B singer John Legend, actress Maggie Smith (“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and “California Suite,” actor Denzel Washignton (“The Hurricane,” “Malcolm X,” “Glory”) and rock singer-musician Edgar Winter (“Frankenstein”).