How did October get here so quickly?
I found this at a boot-sale a few weeks ago for £1.
It's a plate from a set of 12 with illustrations from The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. Sadly (but probably luckily) the only one there was this one otherwise I'd have been tempted by all twelve! (Looks as if they sell for about £10 on ebay, mine was among a load of odds and ends from a house clearance man)
October was originally the eighth month of the Roman calendar. The Anglo Saxons called it Wynmonath - the wine making month or Winterfylleth meaning the full moon (20th) heralding winter.
In the past villagers relied on pannage - the law allowing them access to the woods for their pig - to enable it to fatten on acorns and beech mast before it was killed at the end of the month.
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| Beech Mast |
I found pannage carries on today ...........this on the Forestry England National Trust website........
Pannage is an ancient practice that is still used today by commoners and verderers who turn out their pigs into the Forest during the season. The pannage season, usually between September to December, lasts around 60 days. This year's season will run between 13 September to 14 November. Pigs do a vital job of eating many of the acorns that fall at this time of year. Green acorns are tasty for them, but poisonous for the ponies and cattle that roam the area freely.
Weather lore this month is mostly predictions for the coming winter.
For every fog in October there will be a snowfall in winter
Warm October, cold February.
Below is one of the colourful October pages from the book "Wild Flowers of Britain Month by Month" by Margaret Erskine Wilson
I loved seeing the pigs enjoying pannage when we lived in Dorset. So glad the custom remains (it's important for the ponies as well as the pigs)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realised that there were New Forest Pigs as well as New Forest Ponies. Are there Wild Boar as well?
DeleteA pinch and a punch for the first of the month! Do you know where the 'white rabbit' habit comes from?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little we used to say "rabbits,rabbits, rabbits" on the first of the month - no idea why. I didn't know about Pinch,punch etc until much later
DeletePinch, punch, first of the month is thought to be related to protecting yourself from witches - a pinch of salt to weaken the witch and a punch to drive her away forever. We always followed that line with the words "a slap and a flick for being so quick" is someone managed to say "pinch punch" before you! Saying "white rabbit" or "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit" is supposed to bring you luck for the rest of the month. But you have to say it before noon and has to be your first words spoken that day!
DeleteThanks for that, I lost out this morning to my grand daughter on a pinch and a punch.
DeleteI hope writing "rabbits rabbits rabbits" on the blog makes it a lucky month here!
DeleteI dearly love that plate - what a superb find. xx
ReplyDeleteIf only he'd had the other 11!
DeleteLove the plate too - reminds me of my Fungi Foray days.
ReplyDeleteThe pannage rights in the Forest I know about too, as I used to ride and walk there. Horses hate pigs and you could be riding along, go round a bend and there would be a couple of MASSIVE mamma porkers with their youngsters and all of a sudden, spinning, snorting, terrified horse! You have to drive steadily too as they would often be on the roadside or in a lane. You've brought back happy memories this morning.
I've not been to the New Forest since the early 1980's and never in pannage season so didn't know about the pigs
DeleteHi Sue, you mentioned that you can't get hold of Lemon MaMade from Lakeland any longer. Do you have a Hobbycraft near you? they stock it https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/home-cook-lemon-marmalade-850g/636534-1000?utm_source=newsite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=backinstock
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant - thank you. There is a Hobbycraft around the other side of Ipswich that I can get to
DeleteGreat, but if you are making a special trip please check that they have it in stock. I had them send me an email when it was back in stock but other branches around my local branch didn't have any any so it's a bit hit and miss
DeleteI love the plate and hopefully you might find others. Trust you never not any damafe with all the wind, it has been terrible here but no real damage.
ReplyDeleteI am going to finish the few cards I made yesterday.
Take care everyone.
Hazel 🌈🌈
It hasn't been too windy so no damage. A bit wet and windy next week too I think
DeleteEdith Holden's book is one of my favourites - I'd be wanting all 12 plates as well! Imagine displaying one each month, it would be awesome :)
ReplyDeleteI shall keep a look out for others but they'll have to be cheap! and the chances of that are unlikely.
DeleteI love that plate and just found that book in at a sale. I am so glad to have found you.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Hello and welcome and thank you for commenting. I hopped over to visit your blog and love you photos.
DeleteJust a question…who are your favorite authors?????
ReplyDeleteI don't really have favourite authors as I read so many different books and new authors are always appearing
DeleteYour October plate is lovely. A few pigs to eliminate the acorns on my property would be welcomed. The squirrels are taking away some acorns as they ready for winter but there are still plenty around. I am hoping for a mild winter and just a little snowfall especially for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be fewer squirrels here as there are still hazelnuts on the ground on a nearby footpath
DeleteLovely to read all the customs for October. I hadn’t heard about pannage before. Have a good weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteI like looking in my books to find all sorts of bits for the blog
DeleteLove that plate you found Sue - see what you mean about being unable to resist all twelve if they were available.
ReplyDeleteI saw the whole set on ebay for over £100 - not something I'd be buying!
DeleteBeautiful illustrations on the plate and in the book.
ReplyDeleteThe book is a treat - beautiful pages of paintings
DeleteYou certainly got a good price on that plate. It is beautiful! You've taught me something new again as pannage was a new term to me. Happy October Sue!
ReplyDeleteA very old word - it must go back hundreds of years
DeleteI love your nature and folklore, country ways posts!
ReplyDeletelizzy
Thank you - I enjoy writing them
DeleteA lovely plate! That was a lucky find! Maybe you will come across more of them at a boot sale...especially now that you got your Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit luck!
ReplyDeleteI love October for its lovely colors and cooler temps.
It would be good to find more of those lovely plates but not at £10 each!
DeleteOh wow what a beautiful plate! I would be tempted by the whole set. I really like the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. The book is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there were plates made with pictures from the book. I shall keep my eyes open for more
DeleteI would like the plate please, as I was born in October!
ReplyDeleteSorry - hanging on to it for now!
DeleteI have never heard of pannage -- thank you! I love blogs -- learn something new every day! Wishing you a lovely October.
ReplyDelete