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26 September 1580: Sir Francis Drake completes his circumnavigation of the world
Drake he's in his hammock an' a thousand mile away, (Capten, art tha sleepin' there below?) Slung atween the round shot in Nombre Dios Bay, An' dreamin' arl the time o' Plymouth Hoe. Yarnder lumes the...
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4 October: St Francis and the Jongleurs of God
Little sisters, the birds: We must praise God, you and I You, with songs that fill the sky, I, with halting words. All things tell His praise,Woods and waters thereof sing, Summer, Winter, Autumn,...
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26th September - 12th October: Autumn Goose Fairs
If thou didst feed on western plains of yore Or waddle wide with flat and flabby feet Over some Cambrian mountain's plashy moor, Or find in farmer's yard a safe retreat From gipsy thieves and foxes sly...
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18 October 1216: Bad King John.
An ancient story Ile tell you anon Of a notable prince, that was called King John;And he ruled England with maine and with might,For he did great wrong, and maintein'd little right.Anonymous English...
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24 October: St Crispin's Eve
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this...
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2 November: All Souls' Day
A Soul Cake ! A Soul Cake!I pray good missus for a soul cake!An apple or pear a plum or a cherryAny good thing, to make us merry.Traditional RhymeI'm away this week, but it's All Souls wherever you...
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3 November: Diwali
'With his conch, wheel and coils, Vishnureadied to find suitable couple seeking strapping male babies albeit with tad complex background.In the process, Vishnu hoped he may learn what it...
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11 November: Remembrance Day
It’s Remembrance Day. A day to remember war and think of peace. War has always been a scourge, it's mankind's fatal flaw. So hopes and prayers for a more peaceful world have been an important part of...
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22nd November. The Centenary of the Birth of Benjamin Britten.
Love will expire - the gay, the happy dreamWill turn to scorn, indiff'rence, or esteem:Some favour'd pairs, in this exchange, are blest,Nor sigh for raptures in a state of rest;Others, ill match'd,...
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28th November: Thanksgiving
The weary Pilgrim slumbers,His resting-place unknown;His hands were crossed, his lips were closed,The dust was o'er him strown;The drifting soil, the mouldering leaf,Along the sod were blown;His mound...
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The St. Andrew's Day Service in Edinburgh.
Above the Crags that fade and gloomStarts the bare knee of Arthur's Seat;Ridged high against the evening bloom,The Old Town rises, street on street;With lamps bejewelled, straight ahead,Like rampired...
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13 December: St Lucy
Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento.Placida e l'onda, prospero il vento.Venite all'agile barchetta mia!Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!(Traditional Neapolitan Song)It's St Lucy's day this week and I've...
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21 December: The Winter Solstice
Winter solitude--in a world of one colourthe sound of wind.'Winter Solitude' by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)It’s the winter solstice. We are on the upward curve again and the light strengthens. What a...
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The Twelve Days of Christmas
'One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking of the voices I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can...
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Holy Innocents Day or 'Childermas'
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,Bye, bye, lully, lullay.Lullay, thou little tiny Child,Bye, bye, lully, lullay.O sisters too, how may we do,For to preserve this dayThis poor youngling for whom we...
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6 January: The Baddeley Twelfth Day Cake
This greeting o'er, the ancient rule obey'dThe Drama's homage by her herald paid,Receive our welcome too, whose every toneSprings from our hearts, and fair would win your own.The curtain rises--may our...
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Frost Fairs on the Thames
Behold the Liquid Thames frozen o’re,That lately Ships of mighty Burthen boreThe Watermen for want of Rowing BoatsMake use of Booths to get their Pence & GroatsHere you may see beef roasted on the...
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25th January: Holly Holy Day
Unhappy! shall we never more That sweet militia restore, When gardens only had their towers, And all the garrisons were flowers; When roses only arms might bear, And men did rosy garlands wear?'A...
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30th January: Chinese New Year's Eve
O fan of white silk,clear as frost on the grass-blade,You also are laid aside. 'Fan-Piece, For Her Imperial Lord' by Ezra Pound (1885-1972)I was born on Chinese New Year's Day and so narrowly missed...
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2nd February: Candlemas and Groundhog Day
'Where, woman, is thine offering-The debt of law and love?''My Babe a tender nestling is,And I the mother-dove.' 'A Pair Of Turtle-Doves: The Purification' by John Bannister Tabb (1845-1909)What I...
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A Little Holiday
Dear FriendsI'm going to take a little blog holiday. We're moving house and my Mum needs a bit more care than she used to. Rather than be intermittent with my posts and it all turning into something of...
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A New Blog
Hi!It's been a while but 'Feasts and Festivals' is still here for you to enjoy and refer to and I hope you find what you are looking for. However, life moves on and I have a new blog on Wordpress. It's...
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The Wednesday of Holy Week - Spy Wednesday
'Yet each man kills the thing he loves By each let this be heard,Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word,The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword!' 'The Ballad...
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The Easter Hare
The hare, call him scotart,big-fellow, bouchart,the O'Hare, the jumper,the rascal, the racer....' From 'The Names of the Hare' Anonymous Middle English poem (trans Seamus Heaney)During the month of...
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