"My tidings for you: the stag bells,
Winter snows, Summer is gone.
Winter snows, Summer is gone.
Wind high and cold, low the sun,
Short his course, sea running high.
Short his course, sea running high.
Deep-red the bracken, its shape all gone,
The wild goose has raised his wonted cry.
The wild goose has raised his wonted cry.
Cold has caught the wings of birds.
Season of ice – these are my tidings."
Season of ice – these are my tidings."
Irish Poem (translated by C. Matthews)
Since we are still in a Monsoon (and in dry dock apparently for another week) I used my imagination and let myself experience October in all its beauty whilst browsing the web...
In London for i.e. there is The Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square on the 30th September. The 'Pearlies' were costermonger's (street seller of fruit (apples, etc.) and their distinctive costumes are said to have sprung from the arrival of a big cargo of pearl-buttons from Japan in the 1860's.
(More HERE)
Another great tradition, this time in Somerset, is Punky Night!
Traditionally on this night, children in the South of England would carve their ‘Punkies’, (pumpkins) into Jack O'Lanterns. Once carved the children would go out in groups and march through the streets, singing traditional ‘punky’ songs, calling in at friendly houses and competing for best lantern with rival groups they meet. The streets would be lit with the light of the Punkies.
Hence the song:
It's Punky Night, tonight,
It's Punky Night, tonight,
Give us a candle, give us a light.
It's Punky Night, tonight.It's Punky Night, tonight,
It's Punky Night, tonight,
Adam and Eve, wouldn't believe
It's Punky Night, tonight.
There are too many special dates to remember in October so here are just a few:
- 3rd October (1916) James Herriot (famous Vet and author) was born
- 4th October (1905) Orville Wright became the first person to fly an aircraft for 33 minutes
- 6th October (1769) Captain Cook on board his ship 'Endeavour' discover New Zealand
- 10th October (1066) Battle of Senlac Hill (Hastings)
- 14th October (1926) A. A. Milne writes the first Winnie the Pooh
- 21st October (1805) Battle of Trafalgar
- 25th October (1415) Battle of Agincourt
- 25th October (1854) Charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava
And of course on 31st October there is All Hallows Eve but that's for another day!
This post was inspired in part by Rosey Tinted Spectacles !
such a wonderful post! I enjoyed this so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie (and somehow I am not surprised you appreciated it!)
ReplyDeleteO WOW..great post...thank you xoxo...
ReplyDeleteThank you Dear Dutchess! Sending lots of prayers and thoughts your way!
DeleteTake care,
The 21st October is also our wedding anniversary, lol.
ReplyDeleteAh! Wishing you all the best (in case I experience a senior moment and forget to say Happy Aniversary!)
DeleteHi Noelle,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry it took such a long time for me to reply! The two sixties prints in my last blog post are made by Josette Boland. When I saw them in the thrift store, I just could not leave them there. They are so sweet :-)
I enjoyed your English post! Hope the gales will stop soon and you will get some fine autumn weather, like we have at the moment.
I haven't forgotten about your request to show a photo of the windmill which is close to our garden, but I will have to wait until the trees are bare :-)
Love,
Madelief x
A warm hello Madelief! For a touch of colour in my life, I like to stop by your blog!
DeleteThank you for letting me know about the prints (it reminded me of a romantic set of graphics published in the 60's, mostly viewed in postcards/greeting cards).
I'll be looking forward to the windmill photo! Thanks again for remembering! You are very sweet!
Happy Autumn!