The Continental Breakfast

I don't know the answer to Uncle Ken's other questions, but I do know about the continental breakfast.  Residents of the British Isles commonly refer to mainland Europe as "The Continent".  The Brits traditionally eat a big breakfast, while the Continentals traditionally eat a light breakfast.  When a hotel or motel offers its guests a continental breakfast, it means something like rolls and jam, just enough to tide you over until you can get to a real restaurant for what the Brits call "a proper fry up".

My point about the Roman New Year was that there is nothing magic about January 1st.  Historically, New Years has been celebrated on several other days before everybody settled down to January 1st.  The Romans used May 1st up till 222 BC because that was when their leaders, called "consuls" began their term of office.  It was changed later, first to March15, and ultimately to January 1.  That's the short version.  For the rest of the story, click on the link.