Folk Calendar

Monday 26 July

Happy birthday to Ian A. Anderson (80 today)

Born on this day: Tony Capstick (1944)

Born on this day: Kenneth Loveless (1911), Paddy Moloney (1938) and Seán Ó Riada (1931)

Folklore from the old calendars

Lammas in the old calendars 11 entriesLammas Towers, The Exeter Lammas Glove, St Wilfrid’s Feast at Ripon, Lammas, the Loaf-Mass, Glove Silver, At Latter Lammas, A live lamb for York Minster, Up Snaefell and Barrule on the first Sunday of August, Lammas, called August’s Wheel, The feast round Hitchingstone, Geese with straws on Lammas Day
Doggett’s Coat and Badge Still kept LondonThomas Dogget, a Dublin-born comic actor and a keen supporter of the Hanoverian succession, gave a waterman's coat and silver badge to be rowed for on 1 August 1715, the first anniversary of George I's accession, and at his death left money to keep the prize going for ever.
Burning Fern for Rain Lore and belief Scotland, StaffordshireA letter of 1 August 1636 from the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery to the high sheriff of Staffordshire said that the king was about to pass through the county.
Swimming the Cattle in Westmeath No longer kept LeinsterSir Henry Piers, describing County Westmeath in 1682, wrote that on the first Sunday in harvest, that is in August, the people were sure to drive their cattle into some pool or river and swim them.