Folk Calendar

Saturday 27 February

Born on this day: Jake Thackray (1938) and Percy Dearmer (1867)

Happy birthday to Harry Brazil (126 today)

Folklore from the old calendars

St David's Day in the old calendars 11 entriesWearing the leek, Hanging Taffy, The Ancient Britons’ procession, Swig Day at Jesus College, Oats and barley in the clay, The serjeant-porter’s leek, The crows begin to search, The daffodil for St David, Gingerbread taffies on a goat, The leek and the field of Poictiers, Round the leek-bed on St David’s Eve
A peck of March dust Lore and belief EnglandMarch was expected to be a dry, blustery month, and its dust was welcomed because dry weather was wanted for sowing and planting.
Wetting the block No longer kept Berkshire, HampshireThe first Monday in March was when country shoemakers stopped working by candlelight, and they used to meet that evening to wet the block.
Leeks in Lide Lore and belief West CountryIn the West Country March was called Lide, and eating leeks that month was thought to keep the doctor away all year.
Whuppity Scoorie at Lanark Still kept LanarkshireWhen the Lanark town bell began its six months of nightly ringing in March, the young folk gathered at the cross for Whuppity Scoorie.
Blind Days in Devon Lore and belief DevonOld farmers in one Devon parish called the first three days of March the Blind Days, and no farmer would sow any seed on them.

Happy birthday to Vashti Bunyan (82 today)