Post by bogmyrtle on May 3, 2009 7:41:29 GMT 1
Calendar:
1st May - May Day:
May is named after the Greek godess Maia. The celebrations known as May Day have their origins in the rites of Spring and the ceremonies & sacrifices due to the equivalent Roman goddess Maia Majesta on the first day of the month.
More recently, May Day dances have featured a Queen of May - a modern representation of Maia.
The maypole is a relic of our tree worshipping past.
These ceremonies neatly join together the old religions of the Romans and the Druids.
Sunday before Ascension Day - Chestnut Sunday:
A Victorian invention so middle class families could travel to Kew and Bushey to view the horse chestnuts in bloom!
It is one of the first trees to open in Spring and the tree looks like a giant candlebra with the shape of the flowers - it is sometimes known as the candle-tree!
40 Days after Easter - Ascension:
It is believed that no work should be done this day in the garden - the results would be poor & blighted crops if you did so. Some believe that this is the best day to plant sweet peas - providing it is done before dawn!
19th May - St. Dunstan's Day:
Legend is that St. Dunstan made a pact with the devil which ensures that apple & pear blossom will be spared from a late frost 9 years out of 10 - and the frost will come in the 10th year on St. Dunstan's Day!
29th May - Oak Apple Day:
On this day in 1660 Charles II reclaimed his throne and until the beginning of the 1900s people would wear a sprig of oak leaves & an oak apple to demonstrate their allegiance to the crown. This symbol was adopted during his exile in France after his famous hiding place in the oak tree at Boscobel House in Shropshire.
Foxgloves - according to northern legend, the wicked fairies gave these flowers to the foxes so they could slip their paws into them and prowl quietly around the chicken runs. The marks on them are said to be the finger prints of the mischievous elves!
Yarrow - helps staunch blood flow and belongs to the genus Achillea named after Achilles. It was used by him for his soldiers woulnds and explains th other names of bloodwort, soldier's woundwort and staunchweed.
It is a good garden tonic and a couple of plants planted around the garden is believed to increase the aroma and flavour of their neighbours.
Cornflower - popular in Tudor gardens where it was grown in a variety of colours.
The tough stems are the farmer's enemy - an ancient name for this plant is 'hurt-sickle' because a patch of them could blunt even the sharpest sickle.
May is the month for planting out Brussels sprouts - a stick of rhubarb planted alongside each plant will prevent club-root.
1st May - May Day:
May is named after the Greek godess Maia. The celebrations known as May Day have their origins in the rites of Spring and the ceremonies & sacrifices due to the equivalent Roman goddess Maia Majesta on the first day of the month.
More recently, May Day dances have featured a Queen of May - a modern representation of Maia.
The maypole is a relic of our tree worshipping past.
These ceremonies neatly join together the old religions of the Romans and the Druids.
Sunday before Ascension Day - Chestnut Sunday:
A Victorian invention so middle class families could travel to Kew and Bushey to view the horse chestnuts in bloom!
It is one of the first trees to open in Spring and the tree looks like a giant candlebra with the shape of the flowers - it is sometimes known as the candle-tree!
40 Days after Easter - Ascension:
It is believed that no work should be done this day in the garden - the results would be poor & blighted crops if you did so. Some believe that this is the best day to plant sweet peas - providing it is done before dawn!
19th May - St. Dunstan's Day:
Legend is that St. Dunstan made a pact with the devil which ensures that apple & pear blossom will be spared from a late frost 9 years out of 10 - and the frost will come in the 10th year on St. Dunstan's Day!
29th May - Oak Apple Day:
On this day in 1660 Charles II reclaimed his throne and until the beginning of the 1900s people would wear a sprig of oak leaves & an oak apple to demonstrate their allegiance to the crown. This symbol was adopted during his exile in France after his famous hiding place in the oak tree at Boscobel House in Shropshire.
Foxgloves - according to northern legend, the wicked fairies gave these flowers to the foxes so they could slip their paws into them and prowl quietly around the chicken runs. The marks on them are said to be the finger prints of the mischievous elves!
Yarrow - helps staunch blood flow and belongs to the genus Achillea named after Achilles. It was used by him for his soldiers woulnds and explains th other names of bloodwort, soldier's woundwort and staunchweed.
It is a good garden tonic and a couple of plants planted around the garden is believed to increase the aroma and flavour of their neighbours.
Cornflower - popular in Tudor gardens where it was grown in a variety of colours.
The tough stems are the farmer's enemy - an ancient name for this plant is 'hurt-sickle' because a patch of them could blunt even the sharpest sickle.
May is the month for planting out Brussels sprouts - a stick of rhubarb planted alongside each plant will prevent club-root.
Louis will be dancing around the maypole on the 19th tho. I wonder if the rubarb works for club root. No foxgloves in my garden then!
Thats really interesting 
your never too old to learn! I have never heard of Oak Apple Day . Ascention day was always celebarated at my school and it was on a Thursday, which was when Jesus ascended in to Heaven, and this year we will have just arrived in France and it is a Holiday there so all the shops will be closed.