Further to that and according to Google, a wake meant to watch over, to keep vigil , or to guard..On the subject of death it's not unheard for people to miraculously return to life after apparently dying. As it's a bit of a worry to be buried alive a deceased person was often left to lie in their home for a few days surrounded by family and friends in the hope that there would be a recovery.
And that is why a gathering after a death is called a "wake".
Presumably managed to dodge the shell fire?The only survivor of the Crimean War was, apparently, a tortoise.
Proved a tough nut to crack.Presumably managed to dodge the shell fire?
Chinese whispers innitProved a tough nut to crack.
The real reason was, apparently, that when war was declared, Britain used to have Berwick-upon-Tweed appended to its name in official documentation for some reason. However, this practice had stopped by the end of the war, so officially Berwick-upon-Tweed was still at war with Russia until someone closed the loop about 100 years later.
By which time only a regimental tortoise was still alive having been present at the war.
More interesting stuff - this time concerning cornflakes which were invented to help eradicate the dreadful problem of gentlemen waking up in the morning with lusty thoughts. Some religious fruitcakes aided by Mr Kellogg came up with the idea that a bowl of breakfast cereal would be the ideal thing to take a chap's mind off his morning glory.