February 14: International Condom Day

Not only is February designated Condom Month, the 14th is International Condom Day. 10 things you didn't know about Condoms.

1. Condoms existed 15,000 years ago. Cave paintings dating that far back in Grotte des Combarrelles in France, show people using them.
2. Ancient Egyptians used them, too, according to evidence provided by hieroglyphs. Ancient condoms were made from animal bladders or intestines.
3. Other materials which were used to make condoms in days gone by include oiled silk Paper, leather, tortoise shell and animal horn. In the 16th century, they used linen soaked in chemicals to help prevent syphilis. These condoms would be tied on with a ribbon.
4. The word condom did not appear until the 18th century. Nobody knows where the word came from. It's often said condoms were named after an associate of England's King Charles II, whose name was "Dr. Condom" or "Earl of Condom". There is no evidence that any such person existed, however. Theories about the origin of the word include that it came from the Latin word for a receptacle, a house or a scabbard; or the Italian word for a glove. Since nobody really knows, most modern dictionaries simply say the word's origin is unknown.
5. The first rubber condom was produced in 1855. Latex, rubber suspended in water, the substance most condoms are made from today, was invented in 1920. In the 21st century scientists are working on a spray on condom, but have yet to figure out how to make it dry fast enough.
6. Condoms were often part of the standard kit issued to soldiers to protect them and any women they got it together with, from disease. American soldiers in the Second World War were all given them, but they were as likely to put a condom on the barrel of their rifle as on their private parts, because it prevented the rifle from rusting.
7. You've probably heard, and possibly used, the word "scumbag" as an insult. The term was first coined in the 1960s and means a used condom.
8. The Danish word for condom is Svangerskabsforebyggendemiddel. Luckily, there's a shorter nickname - gummimand.
9. The average condom can hold a gallon of liquid. The world's largest condom would hold quite a lot more - that one was 72 feet in length and was placed over the Obelisque in Place de la Concorde, Paris, to mark World AIDS Day in 1993.
10. Other world records relating to condoms are the longest chain of condoms tied together (25,773) and the largest mosaic made from condom packets, which used 685 of them.

I write fiction, too! My characters include some British superheroes and a psychic detective. You never know, your new favourite could be here! You won't know unless you look...

See details of all my books

Browse other topics I've covered in this blog - HERE.

Like my Facebook page for news of Topical Ten posts, posts on my writing blog, and news of upcoming publications.