AlmanackTweetsさんのイラストまとめ

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.

22 March. The days brighten and lengthen:
“It is now March, and the Air is sharp, but the Sunne is comfortable, and the day begins to lengthen: the forward Gardens give good Salads, and a nosegay of Violets is a present for a Lady.”
(Breton, 1626)
#SpringEquinox #Fridayfeeling

20 March. Observe the full moon at its perigee:
“The stars about the lovely moon
Fade back and vanish very soon,
When, round and full, her silver face
Swims into sight, and lights all space.”
(Sappho Ill. Mengin)
#supermoon

18 March. Hares now breeding:
"To carry a hare’s foot is very lucky – but only if it contains jointed bones…& is a sovereign remedy against gout, stomach pains & insomnia."

#folklore #lucky

11 March. The wood anemone or wind-flower, named after anemos (the wind) now flowering.
“March winds & April showers,
Bring forth May flowers.”
#weather #flowers

(Ill: Windswept by J Waterhouse)

8 March. Do not despise the young stinging nettles which now appear:

Wash & pick your young nettletops & boil in water with the lid off for 10 minutes. Strain, reserve the water for soup & mash the leaves with pepper, salt & a little butter or cream.

#wildlife #calendar

7 March. Sow garden herbs now:

“In March & in April from morning to night,
In sowing & setting good housewives delight,
To have in a garden or other like plot,
To physic their house, or to furnish their pot.”
(Good husbandry 1753)
Ill: Waterhouse
#FolkloreThursday #gardening