AlmanackTweetsさんのイラストまとめ

20 June. Remembering Jane Sharp, 17thC midwife author of The Midwives Book, in English rather than Latin. Female-centred, her book saved lives & was open about sex: "the clitoris being nervous & of pure feeling, when rubbed & stirred causeth lustful feelings" #FolkloreThursday

My Dutch mother gave me a treasured a copy of Hans Andersen c1915. Dutch illustrator, Rie Cramer was influenced by Beardsley, Rackham & Dulac & had a distinct Art Nouveau style. I love this poignantly naked Little Mermaid once she'd lost her tail. #FolkloreThursday

21 May. Keep best cowslip blooms for divination:
Make a ball of flower-heads tied with wool & play ‘Tell Me True’ tossing the ball to this chant:
“Tisty-tosty tell me true, Who shall I be married to?
Tisty-tosty cowslip ball, At my sweetheart’s name you’ll fall.”
#folklore

24 April. St Mark’s Eve. Maidens strip naked & hang their smock by the fire to foresee future husbands:
“On St Mark’s Eve, at 12 o’clock
The fair maid she will watch her smock
To find her husband in the dark,
By praying unto good St Mark.”
Ill Bell #folklore #WednesdayWisdom

19 April #GoodFriday Hang an #Easter loaf in your home all year to protect against disease:
"Good Friday comes; the old woman runs
With 1 a penny, 2 a penny hot cross buns
Whose virtue is if you believe what’s said,
They’ll not grow mouldy like the common bread" (1733)
#folklore

12 April. Do not stand under an oak or ash tree in a thunderstorm:
“Avoid the oak
It courts the stroke,
And shun the ash,
It courts the flash.”
#folklore #weather

6 April. Raphael painter, died this day 1483, from an excess of lust for his mistress, La Fornarina:
“Raffaello continued to divert himself beyond measure with the pleasures of love; he returned to his house in a violent fever…then came to the end of his life’s journey (Vasari)

4 April. Make offering of cream to the cuckoo to stem bad luck & cuckoldry:
"The cuckoo’s a bonny bird, he sings as he flies,
He brings us good tidings, he tells us no lies…
The grave will receive me & bring me to dust
An inconstant lover no maiden can trust”
#FolkloreThursday

29 March. Mice leaving shelter come spring:
"Three little mice sat down to spin
Pussy passed by and she peeped in
What are you at, my fine little men?
Making coats for gentlemen.
Shall I come in and cut off your threads?
Oh no, Miss Pussy, you'd bite off our heads!"
B Potter

25 March. Lady Day: The Annunciation, when Angel Gabriel revealed Mary would bear Jesus, therefore 9 months till Christmas.
Till 1752 the first day of the year. A vestige remains in UK tax year starting 6 April (New Lady Day) adjusted for 11 days loss at the calendar change.