Britain

Not looking a day older than when he ended his career, Sherlock Holmes celebrated his centennial last week, as well as his 133rd birthday. Confused? It's elementary. Back in 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, the first of 60 works to feature the world-famous detective. Sherlockians figure Holmes was 33 when the story was published. They have also divined that Jan. 6 was his birthday. That conveniently provided Holmes' exact age -- and a date to launch centennial celebrations this year on four continents.

In Britain, festivities scheduled by the 800-member Sherlock Holmes Society include a re-enactment of the famous duel between Holmes and his nemesis, Professor Moriarty, at the top of Switzerland's Reichenbach Falls. Holmes enthusiasts in Australia and Japan will hold dinners and writing forums. In the U.S., plans include a horse race honoring Silver Blaze, the title . character in a popular Holmes mystery, and a dinner featuring all the foods mentioned in A Study in Scarlet.