The Past brought to Life
Today, is St Gabriel’s Day, or rather it was. Because the Church amalgamated the Archangel’s Celebration onto St. Michael’s Day, or Michaelmas on October 11th. It is now St Michael and the Archangels Day. You can read all about this in my post here. Angels and Archangels are a complex and disputed subject. Angels appear …
This is now my most popular post. March 25th is the Annunciation—the day that the Archangel Gabriel tells Mary she is pregnant. (to see some very fine paintings of this meeting, look at my other March 25th post march-25th-feast-of-the-annunciation/). When I first wrote this post I was discovering how it all fitted together as I …
The Annunciation by Duccio Today, is the anniversary of the conception of Jesus Christ, called the Annunciation. I told some of this story yesterday which was St Gabriel’s Day. So, sorry for any repetition but I think the extra detail makes it worthwhile! There is a third post in my Annuciation series where I go …
This year, I don’t think it is yet Peak Blossom. Last week of March, first weeks of April, my best bet. But I’m going to keep this post here to encourage you to get out there and take joy from the Blossom season. Or Sakura as the Japanese call it. In 2024, it was early, …
January 30th is the anniversary of the execution of King Charles I. Today, he was beheaded as a murderer and traitor. Or as a Royalist would see it, it is the anniversary of the Martyrdom of Charles I. Thousands came to see the execution, amongst them Samuel Pepys. They crowded around the scaffold outside a …
Continue reading “The Martyrdom of Charles I & ‘Get Back’ January 30th”
November 22nd is the dawning of Sagittarius. According to the Kalendar of Shepherds 1604, women born on this day should marry at age 13, shall have many sons and live to 72 years old. Men born on November 22nd will be merciful, far-travelled, prosperous after early dangers and live to 72 years and 8 months. …
Continue reading “Sagittarius, Martinmas Old Style and Pack-Rag Day November 22nd”
This year the Stratford mop festival was on the 11th and 12th October. I am in Stratford. The the centre of town is a cacophany of shooting galleries, stalls selling toffee apples, candy floss, burgers and all things bad for you. And a fun fair.Nothing at all sophisticated, or literary or dramatic, or folkloric. Just …
Continue reading “Going to the Mop in Stratford-upon-Avon & Henley-in-Arden 11th & 12th October”
I am catching up as I have been away. So I’m a little behind in my days. October 11th is the day that the Devil fell out of heaven and landed in a Blackberry Bush. So. you are, therefore, not wise to eat them after October 11th. St Michael’s Day is now celebrated on September …
September 29th used to be St Michael’s Day, or Michaelmas. But in the 20th Century, the Catholic Church made it the day to celebrate the three chief Archangels and all Angels. Previously, September 29th was for St Michael, March 24th for St Gabriel, and October 24th for St Raphael. It was an important day in …
Continue reading “Michaelmas, St Michael and All Angels September 29th”
One of the joys of my Summer is revisiting places I know and love in my role as a Course Director for Road Scholar. I first came across the ‘en plein air’ in 2023. On Sunday, June 18th. I was in Broadway, once considered the most beautiful village in Britain. It was also the model …