February is coming... be ready

Something to Do - In January

In this wonderful book put together by Septima and illustrated by Shirley Hughes you will have a year filled with joy and creativity.

In January after being introduced to the month by a lovely extract from Winter Snows by Bliss Carmen...

Now the little rivers go

Muffled safely under snow,

And the winding meadow streams

Murmur in their wintry dreams,

While a tinkling music wells

Faintly from their icy bells,

Telling how their hearts are bold

Though the very sun be cold.

... you learn about the tradition of Twelfth Night...

... the January Bird - the Blue Tit...

the January Flower - the snowdrop...

...how to keep Hamsters...  items to collect for the rest of the year so that  you can partake in all the craft making goodness...

As well as suggesting what to do with old Christmas Cards (cover a notebook - use them as sewing patterns) and teaching you how to knit, it also suggests games for January...

Including...

 Boxes

Up Jenkins (though you'll need a sixpence)

and

Shadows

Each month covers a key bit of folklore so this is a perfect companion to the Wyrd Kalendar... 

Saint Agnes Eve - Find Your Future Husband!

The Martyrdom of  Saint Agnes

Today is Saint Agnes Day. It is a tradition on the Eve of Saint Agnes for single women to perform acts of divination to find their future husband.

Hemp seed yesterday afternoon

At midnight, for example, if you throw hemp seed over your shoulder an image of your future spouse will appear before you.

You could try the following incantation before you go to bed (ensure you sleep on your left side and chant the words three times);

"Saint Agnes is a friend to me

In the gift I ask of thee

Let me this night my husband see" 
(Taken from "Long Ago" 1874)

If you dream of a man, well done, that's your future husband! 

If you dream of lots of men you are going to get married many times. 

If you don't dream of any men it means you will live alone.

If you dream of thistles or thorny plants it means your husband will rarely shave.

If you dream of a puddle it means your husband will sweat profusely.

If you dream of poultry it means your husband's breath will smell.

If you dream of stew cooking in a pot it means your husband will be most bilious.

If you dream of a mouse it means your husband will be obedient.

If you dream of large velvet cushions it means your husband will comfortably rotund.

If you dream of white clouds it means your husband will be old.

If you dream of eggs it means your husband will be young.

If you dream of a desert it means your husband will give you no young. 

(Adapted from "The Dark Dreams of the Fertile Woman's Mind" - Sir Dalton Falsworthy 1831) 

All of this is very strange, for Saint Agnes was martyred for steadfastly holding onto her virginity and eschewing all offers of matrimony.

Details of lots of saints and their interesting ways will be available to explore in November's story "All Saints' Day" coming soon in Wyrd Kalendar.

The Armour of Resolve

A replica of the left arm pole of the Armour of Resolve.

The villagers of Stourton took keeping to their resolutions very seriously. One report, written by poet, explorer and folklorist Sir Stanley Coulton in 1887, told of how, on New Years Day, the villagers would gather in the Village Hall to announce their resolutions. These would be written onto parchment and pinned to the wall. 

On the 15th January (Armour Day) the villagers would gather and tell each other of their travails in keeping their resolution. A failure to hold to the resolution would result in that sorry villager being forced to wear the Armour of Resolve. The Armour of Resolve was effectively a series of long poles that were worn by the "Irresolute" by the application of a series of leather straps and buckles. One was attached along the spine from the top of the head to the base of the spine ensuring that the "Irresolute" could not move their head from left to right and only face forwards. The others were attached to arms and legs to keep movement stiff and straight. The purpose of this punishment was to remind the "Irresolute" to keep to the straight and narrow, to not stray from the path they had set themselves. The "Irresolute" would wear the armour for four days and four nights and then report back to the villagers whether or  not the resolution had been adhered to.

In the forthcoming book "Wyrd Kalendar" there is another tale of a strange resolution from the town of Woodchester. You can catch snippets of that tale in this month's mix.

Welcome to the Wyrd Kalendar - January

Join us as we explore the Wyrd Kalendar...

Preparing the way for the forthcoming publication Wyrd Kalendar (written by Chris Lambert and illustrated by Andy Paciorek for Wyrd Harvest Press) this explores, celebrates and exorcises the wintry spirits of January whilst giving a flavour of the delights contained within this book of folk horror themed tales...

All profits from Wyrd Kalendar will go to wildlife charities nominated by the Folk Horror Revival group...