And Into August

 August was originally called Sextilis - the 6th month of the old calendar, and was re-named Augustus in honour of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor. The Anglo-Saxons named it Weodmonath, the month of weeds.

August 1st was Lammas, one of the Celts 'cross quarter' days. The dates that fall between the solstices and equinoxes that were used to mark the agricultural year. It was called Lughnasad Day after the Celtic God Lugh. According to ninth century Anglo-Saxon records Lammas or "hlaf-mass" meaning Loaf-Mass or Feast of Bread  was celebrated as the start of harvest.  The first loaf made from the years harvest was taken to church to be blessed and sacrificed so that all could be fed from the rest of the harvest.

It was an important day in the country, as land which had been harvested could be made available for village people to graze their animals. It was once a public holiday when fairs were held

 Many of the weather sayings for August are connected with the harvest. This year in many places the harvest is already almost finished.

Dry August and warm

Doth harvest no harm.

If weather be fair and tidy thy grain,

Make speedy carriage, for fear of rain.

A page of August flowers from the book 'An Illustrated Country Year' by Celia Lewis

What's happening in my small Suffolk world in August?

Eldest daughter and the two boys will be up from Surrey for a visit later in the month and Eldest Granddaughter has a couple more nights here too - I'm sure the local two grandchildren will visit as well.

I'll be baking things to enter the Flower and Produce show and on the financial front August is another month without any big extra expenses and I must spend less on second-hand books!

Back Tomorrow

Sue