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 12^th of July and he died on March 15^th 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 15^th 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 19^th 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 25^th. 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 1^st. 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 3^rd On this day in 1938 'The Mallard' broke the record for steam engines after reaching a speed

of 126 mph.

July 12^th In 1690 The battle of the Boyne took place in Northern Ireland, although the battle took

place on the 1^st of July today is the commemoration date.

July 13^th National Day – Northern Ireland.

July 15^th St Swithin’s' Day.

July 21^st Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

July 25^th St James' Day Patron saint of pilgrims.

The Whistable Oyster Festival.

St Christopher's Day Patron saint of travellers.

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