FACTS ABOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.

Facts About The Month Of February.

                                                  Gemstone; Amethyst.

                                                    Flower; Primrose.

The Romans and the Celts regarded the month of February as the beginning of Spring.

The month of February and also January were both introduced to the Roman calendar when it was extended from ten months in a year to twelve by the roman Numa Pompilius who was the second King of Rome.

February comes from the word 'Februa' which means to cleanse or purify, due to the many rituals that took place before spring.

The 'Anglo Saxons' called this month 'Sol – monath' or (cake month) because they baked cakes and then offered them to their God's during this month.

The Welsh called February 'y mis bach' which means the little month because it only has 28 days except in a leap year.

Candlemas Day.

February 2^nd is Candlemas Day ( the Christian festival of light. ) This ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, the halfway period between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In the Christian Church on this day all the Candles that were to be used during the New Year were brought in to the church to be blessed at the alter and so this day became known as Candlemas Day, an other name for this day is the Festival Day of the Candles.

Traditions,Superstitions and Weather Lore.

Borrowed Days.

The Days February 12^th - 14^th were said to be “borrowed” from the month of January. It was said that if these days were stormy, the rest of the year would be favoured with good weather: but if they were fine, then the years weather would be foul.

The Legend of the Snowdrop.

A small flower called the Snowdrop appears in February and it is thought to be symbol of hope. The Legend of the Snowdrop comes from the story that when Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden they faced long cold winters and Eve was about to give up hope that they would ever end, when an Angel appeared and she transformed some of the falling snowflakes into the flowers of a Snowdrop, proving that the winters do eventually give way to spring.

An Old Rhyme.

The Snowdrop, in purest white array,

First rears her head on Candlemas day.

The Latin name for Snowdrop “Galanthus “comes from the Greeks, gala means “milk” anthus means “flower”.

Snowdrops are also called Candlemas Bells.

The name Snowdrop does not mean 'drop of snow', it means drop as in “eardrops” the old name for earrings.

Shrove Tuesday.

Shrove Tuesday marks the start of the forty days before Easter, this is supposed to be a period of quietness and fasting. Sometimes called “Mischief Day” Shrove Tuesday is the last day before “Lent”.

In certain parts of the country a special game of football is played. This game of football has no rules and is played on Shrove Tuesday. In some villages and towns the streets would be closed for the duration of the game which could last for several hours or more. The small town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire is one of the places where this game is still held each year on Shrove Tuesday and on Ash Wednesday.

Festivals and Traditions.

February 2^{nd .}

Candlemas Day commemorates the ritual purification of 'Mary', forty days after the birth of “Jesus”.

It is now the day when all the candles to be used by the church during the new year are blessed.

February 12^th.

Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day is on the 12^th of February this year. This is the last day before the start of Lent.

February 13^th.

To day is Ash Wednesday. It was once the custom that children on this day would carry a twig from an Ash tree in their pocket or down their socks and if they were caught without one then the other children would stamp on their feet.

February 14^th.

St' ValentinesDay, this was the day when we originally thought was the day when birds chose their mates.Valentines Day has always been associated with love and romance, it was once said;

The first man an unmarried woman saw on this day,

would be her future husband.

If a woman saw a Robin flying overhead, she would a sailor wed,

If it was a Sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be happy,

If she saw a Goldfinch she would marry a rich man.

February 15^th.

Kissing Friday. It was once tradition that on this day that schoolboys were allowed to kiss the girls without being punished or rejected for doing so. This tradition lasted until the 1940s.

Leap Year.

A leap year occurs every four years when an extra day is added to the month. On this day a woman may propose to her loved one.

Aniversaries.

February 6^th. In 1952 Queen Elizabeth 11 came to the throne.

February 7^th. In 1812 Charles Dickens was born.

February 11^th. Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to sail the Pacific in 1578.

Thomas Edison the famous Inventer was born this day in 1847.

February 12^th. Birth of Charles Darwin in 1807.

February 14^th. St' Valentines Day.

February 15^th. In 1971 Britian went Decimal.

February 23^rd. The birth of 'Handel' the musician in 1685, a German born British composer.

Samuel Pepys was born also on this day in 1633. He is famous for his Diary but also as a Naval Adminstratior to King Charles 11 and also to King James 11, he also became a member of Parliament from 1685-1688.

Winter Visitors.

                                                                                 Waxwings.


In recent weeks a number of winter visiting birds have been finding there way in to the U K and one of the prettiest to be seen is the Waxwing. It has been seen in several areas in Staffordshire already and there is a chance that they will be back, so keep a look out for them.

This winter visitor has travelled all the way from Scandinavia to the U K before returning back there in April or there a bouts. It is a very pretty bird with a crest on top of it's head, Yellow tip on it's tail with Red and White markings on it's wings. It is often seen in small flocks as it travel's around in the search of berries and fruits to feed on, while it winters here. It is not unusual for these birds to be seen in much larger flocks sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They are about the size of a Starling and their flight is also similar. The most recent sightings nearest to Burton was yesterday January 4th, where a flock of around 25/30 was seen at Calver Rocks at Foremark Reservoir.

To be in with a chance of seeing this bird keep a look out for them feeding in the hedgerows on the berries of Sloes, Hawthorne and any other berry or fruit that might still be on the trees, they favour Rowan Berries and Cotoneaster berries but they will feed on most berries when they are in short supply as they are this year. They favour open woodland spaces but they could turn up anywhere, they can sometimes be seen in Town and City Centres around car parks if there are berries to be found and they can sometimes be approached quite closely before they take flight. So keep your camera handy and a sharp lookout and you may see them while out for a walk.

Wassailing.

In my Facts about the month of January, I mentioned the old “Saxon” custom of “Wassailing” that was once celebrated widely across the U.K but has slowly disappeared over the years. The custom is still carried out in several counties across the U. K and is a very popular event that people enjoy.

Wassailing can be traced back to the1400s and has been associated with Christmas and the New Year, and it was a way of passing on good wishes amongst family and friends.

The “Wassail” is an Ale-bassed drink that contains Spices and Honey, it was served from a large bowl that was made from Silver or Pewter and was passed form one person to another to take a sip and was greeted with the word “Wassil”. The word “Wassil” is an Old English word that means “be well” and it comes from the Saxon word “waes hael”.

There are three ways of “Wassailing” which are; to pass the drink around a room from person to person in a large drinking vessel sometimes referred to as “the Loving Cup” to be shared and greeted

with the traditional saying of the word “waes hael”, or to take the bowl around the houses from door to door where they would sing a “Wassailing Song” bearing good wishes in exchange for a drink, food and money and the third way is the celebration of the Apple Harvest or the Blessing of the trees.

The Wassailing of Apple Trees.

The Wassailing of Apple Trees is what I am going to tell you about, as this practice of celebrating the Apple trees is still carried out in several counties across Britain. The Apple Tree waissailing is a ceremony which involves drinking to the Health of the tree. The people of the village in most farming communities would meet in all or one of the many Orchards that were once to be found across England on or around the 12^th of January to carry out the “Wassail”. The celebrations got under way with the lighting of a fire and then the people would gather around the trees to sprinkle some wassail over the branches of the trees, the largest and the best tree in the orchard would be selected and this would have Cider poured over it's roots. They would then place pieces of toast soaked in cider on and amongst the branches of the tree and the main part of the celebrations would start to take place. All the people would have brought with them pots and pans and the orchard owner would have his shot gun, the people would then begin to make a tremendous noise banging their pots and pans together and the firing of the shot gun would take place. This was to raise the Sleeping Trees Spirit and to scare away the Demons. The gathered people would then recite these words;

“Wassail these trees that they may be

You many a plum apple and many a pear

For more or less fruits they will bring

As you do give them wassailing.

As the celebrations continued singing and dancing began and the “wassail” would be passed around amongst the crowd and the wassail song would be chanted or sung as a blessing or a to bring a good harvest of fruit the following year.

The Wassailing Song.

Oh Apple tree, we'll wasail thee

And hoping thou will bear

For the Lord does know where we we may go

To be merry another year.

To grow well and bear well

And so merrily let us be

Let every man drink up his glass

And a health to the old apple tree

Brave boys, and a health to the old apple tree.

The celebrations would continue till late at night with dancing and drinking and everyone taking part.These events that are being revived or have carried on over many years now include Morris Dancers and other attractions to them, for people to enjoy and take part or watch the ceremony take place. One of the nearest locations to Burton On Trent where you can see and enjoy this event is at

The Fleece Inn, Bretforeton, Nr Evesham, in Worcestershire, travel time to get there is around 2 hours. The pub is run by Nigel Smith a former Burtonion who worked at Marstons. The pub is a National Trust property and is in a lovely old Cotsword type Farmhouse that dates back hundreds of years. It changed from a Farm to an Inn and became licenced in 1848, it has one of the U K's largest Pewter collections on display and there are Whitches Circles in the old fireplace and it regulary holds various events throughout the year.

Other venues include.

Old Mill Farm Bolney, Sussex.

Middle Farm, Sussex.

The Butchers Arms, Carhampton, Somerset.

And it the town of Monmouth, Wales.

Facts About The Month Of January.

FACTS ABOUT THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

                                                                 Gemstone: Garnet.

                                                                 Flower: Carnation.

This is the start of the New Year and when we make our New Year Resoloutions.

January was the first month of the year in the Roman Calendar , named after Janus he was the “spirit of the opening” Janus is Latin for Door.

The Anglo Saxons called this month "Wolf Monarth" because it was the time of the year when the Wolfs came into the Villages in search of food.

New Years Day is the first day of the year in the Gregorian callendar, it is a time for looking forward and hoping that the new year brings good health and happiness. It is celebrated all over England with singing, dancing, fireworks and parties. The celebrations begin on New Years Eve, the last day of the Old Year and carry on through the night with everyone waitng for Midnight when the Old Year go'es out and the New Year come's in.

New Year Superstions.

January 1st was a significant day in Medieval Times, it was a day when many superstions were thought to take place regarding the good and bad fortunes that would befall you and others in the year ahead.

The Door Custom or “First Footing”.

It was once customary that as soon as Midnight had passed, people would wait behind their doors for a dark haired person to arrive. The visitor would bring with them a piece of Coal, some Bread, Money and Greenery. These were to bring Good Luck on everyone in the house during the coming year, the Coal was to ensure that the house would stay warm, the Bread to make sure there was always food on the table, the Money was to make sure that there would be enough through the year and the Greenery was to ensure that they had a long life. On leaving the house the visitor would take some ashes from the fire to signfy the parting of the old year.

Another custom in the Farming Community in days gone by was the custom of putting a flat cake on one of the horns of a cow in the farmyard. The farmer and his workers would then sing and dance around the cow until the cake fell to the ground. If it fell in front of the cow it meant good luck in the year ahead but if it fell behind it meant bad luck would follow.

January 2nd was believed by the Saxons to be one of the unluckiest days in the year. It was thought by them that any child born on this day could expect to die of an unpleasent death.

January is normally the coldest month of the year and regulary produces Frost's, Snow and Ice.

January 13th is Saint Hilary's Feast Day and is considered to be the coldest day of the year because history has shown over many years that on or around this day many of the coldest events recorded have taken place. One of the severest winters to have taken place was in the year 1205 and it began around this day, it was so cold that the River Thames froze over and Ale and wines froze solid and were sold by weight. The cold spell and Frosts lasted until the 20th of March.

In the year 1086 another great frost also started to spread across the whole of England on this day.

Frost Fairs.

During the winters of 1550-1750 the climate in Britian during the winter months was so cold that it was called the “Little Ice Age”. During these winters the River Thames regulary froze over for two or three months at a time and in 1608 the people in London held the first Frost Fair on the frozen river. There were tent's and sideshows, food stalls, skating and bowling events taking place as well as many other winter actvities. The last of the Frost Fairs took place in the winter of 1814.

First New Moon Customs.

When the first New Moon of the year arrived there were many customs that used to take place, many of which revolved around foretelling your prospects of marriage if you were a young lady.

These included looking through a New Clean Silk Handkerchief at the Moon and depending on how many moons you could see, was the number of years it would be before you got married but it was considered bad luck to look at the New Moon through a window. It was also said that if you stood with your legs apart over a Style or Gate on the night the first new moon appeared and while looking at it you recited this rhyme you would dream of your future husband.

All hail to thee moon, all hail to thee,

I prythee, good moon, reveal to me,

This night who my husband shall be.

                                                    Other Festivals and Traditions.

Twelfth Night.

The Twelfth Night marks the end of the Christmas Festivities.

Epiphany or The Twelfth Day.

The twelfth day of Christmas, the day we celebrate the vist to see baby Jesus by the Magi ( the three wise men)

January 7th. St Distaff's Day.

This was the day when women had to return to work after the Christmas holiday period.

Plough Monday.

Plough Monday was the name given by country folk that came after the Twelfth Night when they returned to work.

January 17th. Wassailing Night.

Wassil comes from the Old English Word of “waes hael” which means “be well”. It is an old Saxon custom and it involved the people going from door to door singing like Carol Singers but they were called “Wassailers”.

The Wassil was an Ale-based drink that was seasoned with Spices and Honey, it was carried by the “wassilers” from door to door where they would sing a “waes hael” song and offer it to the people of the house and wish them well for the coming year. In return the people of the house would give them a drink, money and Christmas Fare ( food ) so they would receive the good luck they gave them.

In other parts of the country "Apple Tree Wassailing" took place. This ceremony involves drinking to the good health of the Apple Trees so that they would produce and bare a good crop. The whole procedure includes blessing the roots of the tree with cider, sprinkling some Wassil over the branches and generally making loud noises to frighten the Demons away and wake up the Sleeping Tree Spirit. These celebrations still take place in many parts of the country where they attract visitors from all over the world to watch and join in the spirit of the event.

January 25th. Burns Night.

The people of Scotland honour their greatest poet “Robert Burns” on this night. It is celebrated with a meal of a Haggis and is washed down with Whiskey.

Anniversaries.

January 1st New Years Day.

The Bbc began broadcasting in 1927.

January 4th. Louis Braile was born in 1809. He invented the Braile system of reading for the blind.

January 9th. Income Tax was introduced.

January 11th. Charring Cross Railway Station opened in London in 1864.

January 17th. Robert Scott reached the South Pole.

January 25th. Robert Burns was born in 1759.

January 26th. Australia Day.

January 27th. Mozart was born.

January 2th. The first of the Victoria Cross Medals was cast from the metal melted down from the guns captured in the Crimea.