FACTS
ABOUT THE MONTH OF JULY.
Gemstone:
Pearl
Flower
of the month:
Larkspur ( Delphinium )
July
is the Seventh month of the year according to the Gregorian Calendar
and is also one of the hottest. It is nearly the end of the school
year and the start of the summer holiday season. July was the fifth
month of the year in the calendar of the ancient romans and was
called Quintilius which means fifth. It was later changed by a Roman
Senate to Julius in honour of Julius Caesar who was born in the year
100 BC on the 12th of July and he died on March 15th
in 44 BC.
The
Anglo-Saxon names for this month were Heymonath
and Maed monath meaning the month of
haymaking ( Heymonath ) and this was the time of the month when all
the flowers were in full bloom in the meadows ( Maed Monath )
Weather-lore,
Beliefs and Sayings.
'If
the first of July it be rainy weather,
'Twill
rain more or less for four weeks together'.
On
St Swithin's Day the 15th of
July it was said that whatever the weather is like on this day it
will continue so for the next forty days and nights.
St
Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain
For
forty days and nights it will remain.
St
Swithin's Day, if thou be fair,
For
forty days and nights t'will rain nae mair.
Festivals
and Traditions.
Since
the year of 1839 during the month of July the Henley
Royal Regatta has taken place each year on the River Thames at
Henly-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The regatta lasts for 5 days and
there are over 200 races taking place. The regatta was given its
royal status after the visit by H.R.H Prince Albert in 1851 who was
the first Royal Patron to attend the regatta. Since the death of The
Prince Consort the reigning Monarch has always consented to become
its patron. This patronage means the Regatta can be called The Henley
Royal Regatta.
Also
this month the annual Swan Upping takes
place. This is the when the census of the the swans along a 70 mile
stretch of the River Thames over a 5 day period is carried out. Each
swan caught by the Uppers is counted and marked.
Honiton
Fair in Devon, an event lasting three days, begins on the
first Tuesday after July the 19th each year. The fair has
been held on St Margaret's Eve since 1221 and is one of the few fairs
that preserves the ancient 'Glove is up' custom. The fair begins with
the Town Crier carrying a 12 foot pole covered with flowers and on
it's top is a gilded glove and he then recites to the town:
Oyez,
Oyez, Oyez
The
glove is up
The
fair has begun
No
man shall be arrested until the glove is taken down.
God
save the Queen.
Hot
coppers are then thrown down into the street from an upstairs window
of the Angel Hotel to be picked up by the people of the town. This
whole process is repeated again later on in the week at the White
Lion where the Glove is taken down signifying the end of the fair.
St
James' Day or Grotto Day is on July the 25th. On
this day children used to make grottoes and caves and decorate them
with sea shells because the shell of the Scallop is supposed to look
like the emblem of St James' . The grottoes were placed outside their
homes and the children would sit by them and recite this verse:
Please
remember the Grotto.
It's
only once a year.
Farther's
gone to sea.
Mother's
gone to bring him back.
So
please remember me.
 |
EMBLEM OF ST JAMES.
|
 |
SCALLOP SHELLS. |
Other
Notable Dates.
July
1st. In 1837 the registration began of all birth's,
marriage's and death's.
In 1937 the introduction of the 999 emergency
service began.
In 1997 the British rule of Hong Kong ended after
99 years.
July
3rd On this day in 1938 'The Mallard' broke the record
for steam engines after reaching a speed
of 126 mph.
July
12th In 1690 The battle of the Boyne took place in
Northern Ireland, although the battle took
place on the 1st of July today is the
commemoration date.
July
13th National Day – Northern Ireland.
July
15th St Swithin’s' Day.
July
21st Apollo 11 landed on the moon.
July
25th St James' Day Patron saint of pilgrims.
The Whistable Oyster Festival.
St Christopher's Day Patron saint of
travellers.
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