Hello peeps! @ailindigo here :)
This is the last Untranslatable Word of 2020! WOW! I want to thank all of the readers for following up this series! We're now on the 12th Untranslatable Word and last week of 2020, that's why I choose this word for this occasion, after all 2020 wasn't so bad!
This week's word is the latin phrase: annus mirabilis
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annus mirabilis
Despite 2020 being an awful crazy year, I think it's this same reason that makes it a pretty remarkable year not only in history but in our individual lives, no matter our different situations. As they say "in every crisis lies opportunity" and I think this year has been a proof of that.
annus mirabilis is a Latin phrase that means "wonderful year", "miraculous year" or "amazing year". This term was originally used to refer to the year 1666 (of Isaac Newton), and today is used to refer to several years during which events of major importance are remembered. *
This is a phrase that historically has been applied to different years, although its use seems to come from the title of a poem by John Dryden (Annus Mirabilis, 1667) about the terrible events of the previous year in London, especially the great fire and the great plague. *
The year 1666 was associated with the apocalyptic 666 and some other interesting numerologic coincidences, which made foreshadow the end of the world, and so Dryden saw the miracle in simply surviving. Also in 1666 Isaac Newton was alleged to have observed an apple falling from a tree, he made revolutionary inventions and discoveries in calculus, motion, optics and gravitation. *
There have been several annus mirabilis such as 1543: "The year of Science" where the scientific revolution started with Andreas Vesalius and Nicolaus Copernicus publications; or 1905: the year in which four articles, collectively known as Annus Mirabilis papers, were published in Annalen der Physik by Albert Einstein, these were important discoveries concerning the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, the special theory of relativity, and the famous E = mc2 equation; among some others. In commemoration of these events, the World Year of Physics was celebrated on 2005, on the 100th anniversary of the Annus Mirabilis. *
UK National Poetry Library
Now, what it really gets my attention is that John Dryden "saw the miracle in the simple survival", I think this is something that fits perfectly 2020 and makes it an annus mirabilis, right? This year was so crazy that I'm sure for many people just surviving it was a miracle, it is still for me. However, even though this year wasn't the best because of covid 19, I think it somehow was an epic new cycle starter.
This year was crazy for sure, not only because of covid but many things, but as I said before "in every crisis lies opportunity" and just as many people's life got screwed by this pandemic for other this was just a great opportunity to be successful. This pandemic brought up a new paradigm shift and I think that's no secret.
Personally speaking, this was a incredible year, I lost two jobs but the personal growth was huge. I was dealing with troubles from 2019 because it was my first year in a new country, starting in a new place all over again and stuff, and I was hoping to improve my sadness management and somehow all of this helped with it, because on 2019 I was very depressed on 2020 I managed it all way better. I realized I just became stronger and it feels really good. So, I can say for me 2020 was a year of miracles and indeed makes me speak hopefully of the future!
What do you think? Was 2020 an annus mirabilis for you? Did it take you down or did it make you stronger? Please tell me what you think!
Thank you very much for passing by! Thanks for following the series so far and I hope you all have a happy new year!! If you have an Untranslatable Word you'd like to suggest, please don't hesitate to do so! :)
Previous Untranslatable Words:
#1: Torschlusspanik
#2: Mono no aware
#3: Rasāsvāda
#4: Cavoli riscaldati
#5: Nefelibata
#6: Sturmfrei
#7: Jootha
#8: bilita mpash
#9: resfeber
#10: Vāde mēcum
#11: sankofa
This content is part of a new series to get more people interested on languages and how they, perception and culture are related!
Exclusively for the Hive Cross Culture Community, the community for language exchange or cross-cultural purposes.
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