Wrap up cold! It's a Dog day!

Feeling out of sorts?

Ill?

Can't get comfy?

Are their evil portents or foul things afoot?

Has your dog gone plum crazy?

Are you a bit hot?

Worry not! All that has happened is that the dog star has risen with the sun and we are in the midst of the Dog Days!

The Dog Days occur between the 3rd July and the 11th August.

To survive them you will need the following:

1. Ice

2. Water

3. Umbrella

4. Naked skin

5. A fan

6. Lemonade

7. A slice of lemon

8. A sprig of mint

9. Pimms

For more information watch the documentary "Dog Day Afternoon" presented by Al Pacino.

It's Saturday! Cut your nails!

As everyone knows Saturday is a good day to cut your nails, for you will meet your sweetheart on the following day. Who hasn't met a sweetheart on a Sunday because of their footcare the day before? No-one that's who!

On other days cutting your nails may bring further fortune or misfortune. This is of course all true and scientifically proven through the stringent work of podiatrists.

Monday for health, 
Tuesday for wealth, 
 Wednesday for news, 
Thursday for shoes, 
Friday for sorrow, 
Saturday see your sweetheart tomorrow, 
If you cut them on Sunday you cut them for evil, 
And all the week through you will sup with the Devil.

Source: Household Tales with other Traditional Remains – Sidney Oldall Addy

July 16th - Crab the Parson!

Have you ever had the urge to lob handfuls of small, bitter fruit at a vicar?

Well now's your chance! 

On July 16th you would find hundreds of bruised and battered parsons covered in the remnants of crabapples thrown by enthusiastic parishioners to celebrate the eve of Saint Kenelm's Day.

(Source: Maypoles, Mayhem and Martyrs by Quentin Cooper and Paul Sullivan.)

Dragon Day!

As everyone knows July 14th is Dragon Day! 

That is because, as everyone knows, a dragon landed in a cowfield in Henham, Essex, on this day in 1669. This incredible event was reported widely via pamphlet (the Huffington Post of its day) and became the foundation of a glorious drunken fair in which copious amounts of cider and beer (in the same glass) were consumed in honour of this fiery visitor.

So, like those villagers of old (or university students out on the razz) raise a glass of Snakebite to the Dragon and roar!