Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday - things have been a bit odd here and I'll explain at the end of the week.
Today is one of the feast days of St. Thomas and there are two old sayings for this day. Although the second doesn't quite fit for this year as the true Solstice is tomorrow early morning.
Look at the weathercock at noon on St Thomas's Day and whichever way the wind blows from it will stay that way for the next lunar quarter
St Thomas grey, St Thomas grey
Longest night and shortest day
In the past St. Thomas's Day was a excuse for 'gooding', which involved begging for food in return for a small bunch of greenery. In some places this was called 'Doleing'. The dole given was usually some flour for making bread with the wheat donated by a wealthy farmer and ground without charge by the miller.
St Thomas was also known as Didymous and Doubting Thomas - one of the first apostles. Details of his life after his appearance in the gospels are uncertain . He is thought to have gone as a missionary to India and to have been martyred at Madras. His special day now is usually marked on July 3rd.
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| St Thomas by Rubens from around 1612 |
Back Tomorrow
Sue
It looks as though St Thomas is going to be grey again today. This kind of weather never bothered me at one time but I'm beginning to find it irksome.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what extra windy on St Thomas' Day means.
DeleteI wonder if that's where 'On the dole' came from?
ReplyDeleteYes, Anon - "dole" is an old English word meaning "alloted portion". And to "dole out" means to give someone their share. Sue, I hope you are OK.
DeleteI'm OK thank you just not quite 100% but extra busy
DeleteYou do have a good knowledge of the saints! Hope you are okay and your end of week mystery will reveal joyful news.
ReplyDeleteIts googling, wiki and my saints book where it all comes from!
DeleteI was sure that tomorrow was the shortest day but so many people have posted that it’s today that I had doubted myself. Another interesting story about the saints-thank you. Catriona
ReplyDeleteSame here, confused!
DeleteIt's either 21st or 22nd but the difference is about 1 minute so doesn't really matter
DeleteWe can look forward to the days lengthening after tomorrow:-)
ReplyDeleteVery, very slowly until the end of the month
DeleteThe weather is atrocious here, it should have been our last street market day before Christmas, but only two stalls braved the weather ... I doubt they will be there for long, it's getting worse. I hope everything is alright at your end. xx
ReplyDeleteJust windy here now after rain this morning, thankfully floods have gone again
DeleteWhat a lovely painting that is and interesting info, thank you
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Thank goodness for googling -wiki and the Saints book
DeleteLonger days and more sunshine are always welcomed. I look forward to eventually waking up to sunshine instead of darkness. "Dole" generally refers to the US welfare system whereby an individual (or family unit) qualifies for government funds/subsidies.
ReplyDeletePeople used to say "on the dole" for out of work now it's usually called "on benefits"
DeleteHope everything is okay. Such an interesting post! Commenting on the comment above - I remember the saying 'on the dole'. How interesting that it came from that.
ReplyDeleteOh dear that means we will be having easterly winds for a good long time.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.