If August 24th be fair and clear,
Then hope for a prosperous autumn that year.
Today, August 24th, is Saint Bartholomew's Day. Bar-Tolmai (son of Tolmai) lived and died in 1st century Palestine. It is thought he was flayed alive so becoming the patron saint of butchers and tanners. He was also the patron saint of bee keepers and it was traditional for the honey to be taken from the bees on this day.
St John's Gospel records a conversation between Jesus and Bartholomew who was one of the first disciples . Jesus said Bartholomew was a man without deceit. Bartholomew asked " How do you know me?" and Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, when you were sitting under the fig tree, I saw you". Bartholomew's early doubt disappeared and he said" Teacher you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel". Bartholomew became an apostle and was granted a vision of the Risen Lord.
Later traditions record he preached in India and Armenia, where he met his death.
This small book all about honey is one I picked up for next to nothing from a car-boot sale two years ago it turned out to be a fascinating little book, packed full of everything you ever wanted to know about honey.
There's a whole A-Z of the flavours of honey when it's been made from various plants and several pages of quotes about honey.
If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive
Dale Carnegie
Tart words make no friends: a spoonful of honey
will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.
Benjamin Franklin
Humans have been harvesting honey for at least 8,000 years, for most of those it's been taken from wild bees then came straw skeps, from which the whole combs would have been taken. Then came wooden hives with purpose made removable frames that we see today with centrifugal honey extractors- invented in 1865, honey production and harvesting became a lot safer and easier.
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| Illustration from the book 'An English Cottage Year' by Sally Holmes and Tracey Williamson. |
In London a St Bartholomew's Day fair was held to raise funds for St Bartholomew's hospital. The fair was first held in 1133 but was banned in 1855 because of offences against public dignity and morals!
The first "toffee apples" were traditional at this fair, they were windfall apples, skewered on sticks and dipped in honey.
St. Bartholomew's mantle wipes dry all the tears St. Swithin can cry
As St. Bart's Day, so the autumn .
As St. Bart's Day, so the autumn .
(Many Thanks for comments yesterday and apologies for not replying. Had a whole day travelling home from a holiday with family which I'll write about next week - awful traffic everywhere. I didn't factor in travelling home on the Friday before a Bank Holiday weekend when I made the booking in May of 2023!)
Back Soon
Sue
Honey is one of nature's most incredible miracles!
ReplyDeleteBank Holidays always spent one of two ways here, either at home, or more than likely in the past I had to work. That's the price of working in hospitality. Then I would hear stories of friends stuck in traffic for hours not getting to the beach or theme park and just spending the day in the car, often desperate for the loo!
Looking forward to hearing about your holiday.
Bank holidays were always busy on the campsite - definitely no going away then!
DeleteTraffic has been pretty busy round here too. Thank you for all the Bartholomew/honey information. The Hospital was founded by Rahere, a courtier from the court of Henry 1, and variously described as a monk or a jester (or both - a Holy Fool)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the added information
DeleteI really like the illustration of the hives. Have you ever kept bees?
ReplyDeleteNo, we had goats and goats and bees don't mix!
DeleteI absolutely love honey in all forms 😀 A fascinating read TQ
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I'm glad I can still buy local honey - don't eat it often but it's good to have in the cupboard
DeleteFair and clear, eh? Oh, dear . . . ;-) xx
ReplyDeleteYes, a really wet day here too - no prosperous Autumn to look forward to!
DeleteI was raised on a honey bee farm.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been interesting
DeleteI am never without honey and have friends that keep hives so I buy from them. The roads are busy here too as many are coming home from their holiday. Our schools start early September and people seem to be on the roads shopping for school too. I hope you enjoyed your holiday.
ReplyDeleteA good holiday thanks, I'll write about it next week
DeleteWhat a fascinating little book you found, and I love the quotes you printed :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom would always have a slice or two of toast with honey at around 3 pm. Thank you for bringing back that memory with your post.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
If August 24th be fair and clear,
ReplyDeleteThen hope for a prosperous autumn that year.
Well I certainly hope it was cleqar where you are, after the summer we have had. Next door to my house in France lives one of the regions largest honey producers and importers - he has shops and market stalls and more... But in truth I can just about stand the stuff in yogurt, otherwise I rather dislike it on almost anything - not sure why that is, for good jam is perhaps my favourite foodstuff in all the world!