Why is JHB the 'City of Gold' and NY 'The Big Apple'?
How did these big cities across the world get their nicknames?
When people talking about making their way to Johannesburg in South Africa to purse their dream, you hear them say: "I am going to The City of Gold."
We are certainly aware that it may be a metaphor for all the opportunities the city may have or various people but that is not how it really got the name.
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Johannesburg – City of Gold
Johannesburg happens to be located on the edge of the world's largest known gold deposit. Gold was traded in that spot in Johannesburg for centuries then the area was eventually declared open for public digging in 1886.
So it is not all a metaphor, guys...
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Paris – the City of Love
When people make their way to Paris, it would usually be to get engaged or enjoy a holiday with a romantic partner. A lot of people ind 'love' and 'Paris' to be synonymous because of the art and the culture in Paris.
The city’s beautiful backdrops and sensational settings simply whisper 'romance'. That is how it earned one of the most famous city nicknames of all.
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New York – The Big Apple
Short story: In the 1920s, sports presenter John J. Fitz Gerald started using the phrase in his horse racing columns after hearing stable hands refer to NY's racetracks as the 'big apples''
It then spread and was used to describe New York as a home of the 'big leagues' in music and the nightlife as well.
After it disappeared for a little while, the terms was used in the 1970s as part of a tourism advertising campaign.
And now, we use 'The Big Apple' and 'Concrete Jungle' to describe it.
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Milan – Fashion Capital of the World
The city of Milan has always been a key player in fashion dating back to the 1800s.
Over the years it gained a reputation for its more stylish and affordable fashion.
Now it is home to Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Prada, and Valentino, among the big fashion names in the industry.
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So next time you drop these nicknames in a conversation, you know exactly how it came about
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