It's Friday so I'm joining in with Amy
at Love Made my Home for this week's Five on Friday. Click on the link at
the bottom of this post to find others who are joining in too.
The last week has seen the transition from February to March. There is an old saying 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb' well the 1st of March wasn't very lion like although the day after certainly was with lashing rain, sleet, snow, hail and howling, branch snapping winds. Definitely a day to stay indoors. This week will see five notable or seasonal events and these will be at the heart of my Five on Friday this week.
1. Monday 29th February - Leap Year
Another old saying we learnt at school and which I still remember today is 'Thirty Days hath September, April, June and November all the rest have thirty one, except February which has twenty eight days clear and twenty nine each leap year.' People born on the 29th February only have a proper birthday day during leap year and they are known as Leaplings. During my lifetime I've only known one person born on the 29th February and he always celebrates his birthday on 1st March, except in leap years of course.
2. Tuesday 1st March - White Rabbits
The rabbit in the photo above is not a white rabbit of course, but is an extremely charming rabbit photographed a few years ago on one of our walks and he or she seems to fit in here.
When we were children we always had to remember to say 'White Rabbits' on 1st of March and it also had to be the first thing you said on waking up, the reasons why are lost in the mists of time but it was something to do with nice surprises. There was another saying which relates to the first of any month 'Pinch, Punch it's the first of the month'. I don't remember this one as a child but it was probably around although I'm sure I'd remember lots of pinching and punching in the playground so it wasn't as well known as 'White Rabbits.'
3. Also Tuesday 1st March - St David's Day
St David's Day is a day of huge celebration for anyone from Wales. St David (Dewi Sant) is the patron Saint of Wales. He was born in Caerfai in Pembrokeshire around 500AD. Studying under St Paulinus in Cardigan he founded twelve monasteries in his lifetime. It is thought he died on 1st March 589 and his remains are buried in St David's Cathedral in the small city of St David's in Pembrokeshire. Above is a photo of St David's Cathedral taken when we visited in the summer of 2006.
4. Thursday 3rd March - World Book Day
Books play a large part in my life and always have since early childhood. I like nothing better than to curl up with a good book. I have happy memories of the books I read as a child and of my visits to the local library to choose books to take home to read and I still love visiting our local library to choose books to read. One of my favourite books, in fact possibly my favourite, is 'A Month in the Country' by JL Carr. I think I've written several posts about it over the years and I still re-read it often. I last read it after we'd been to see a wonderful stage adaptation, by the North Country Theatre, a couple of years ago so it is due for another re-read soon. I loved the film they made of it, over twenty years ago now, with Colin Firth and Kenneth Brannagh in the lead roles, as it was so true to the book. It is just a shame that no DVDs of the film are available. I wonder if they will ever remake it with new actors in the rolls? Another favourite book (and film) and due for another re-read soon is The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim but I think I'll wait until April for that. Another book I love and re-read often is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey and I've also written about this one in several posts about Richard III.
5. Sunday 6th March - Mothering Sunday
or Mother's Day, here in the UK. I lost my Mum in May 1999, she was born in 1916 so would have been 100 this year had she lived. I'll be thinking about her on Sunday.
Have a lovely weekend everyone
It was always pinch punch for the first of the month for me, I do remember having bruises on my arms. I much prefer the White Rabbits version. Take care.
ReplyDeleteOuch, I think I prefer White Rabbits too:)
DeleteYou've brought back all sorts of memories this week! What a lot has happened over the last few days. The mosaic for your Mother is just lovely. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt did seem pat that there were five things this week for Five on Friday, glad to have jogged your memory with the sayings:)
DeleteInterestingly, my family were the only ones around our way that said 'white rabbits'. Everyone else did 'pinch punch, first of the month'. It was years before I met anyone else who said 'white rabbits'. I always assumed it was down to my traveller background (a couple of generations back). I loved St David's when I went many years ago. Your photo shows up how purple much of the stonework is. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteSt David's is spectacular isn't it? I only remember White Rabbits for 1st March. I was brought up in NE Derbyshire and all the people in our village seemed to say it or know of it:)
DeleteGorgeous photos especially the rabbit one! My family say 'white rabbits' on the first of every month. It has to be the first thing you say on that day if you want good luck. We have always said 'pinch punch first day of the month, no return' every month and then if someone pinches us we pinch them back saying 'a pinch and a kick for being so quick'! Aren't families strange? x
ReplyDeleteThe 'pinch punch' routine sounds interesting. The rabbit is cute isn't it?:)
DeleteI forgot to say that you have to say white rabbits three times! x
ReplyDeleteYes, I forgot to say it had to be three times too:)
DeleteWhat a fab post. I too say white rabbits and your photograph of the little one is lovely. Such a busy week. Enjoy your weekend. X
ReplyDeleteYes, there have been lots of things this week to think about. Hope you have a lovely weekend too:)
DeleteThe rabbit is cute indeed! We have only tradition regarding the1st of April. Then it is allowed to make terrible funny jokes / pure lies to people. If they believe what we are telling them we say 'Aprillia, aprillia, eat salty herrings and drink dirty water'. How clever is that :))
ReplyDeleteYour April 1st traditions sounds similar to our April Fools day. You can play a trick or try to fool someone on that day but it has to be before noon. Love your April 1st saying:)
DeleteA lovely seasonal Five Rosie, thank you. We say "White Rabbits" three times on the first day of EVERY month, I didn't know it was only supposed to be in March, although that makes complete sense! I have read The Daughter of Time and I think the argument is compelling, I have viewed that Henry VII with suspicion ever since. Have a lovely weekend and raise a glass to your mum on Sunday - aren't you lucky to have such lovely photos of her? x
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrs T - I always thought it should just be March but I could be wrong of course, memory plays tricks. Yes, Henry VII wasn't the conquering hero of Shakespeare was he? I am lucky to have loads of photos of my Mum and older family members too:)
DeleteA lovely post for Five on Friday and for the beginning of the month. A sweet photo of the rabbit. I remember saying 'white rabbits' and the pinch punch activity in the primary school playground, although it was done in good fun as far as I can recall. I've enjoyed all those three books and the DVD of The Enchanted April. Mothering Sunday/Mother's Day can be a poignant one for many folk. You've done a lovely photo tribute to your mother here. I miss my dear mother too. Thankfully she lived to her 90th birthday year and kept fairly well and in good spirits until the last few weeks of her life.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to learn what people remember from their school days with regards the White Rabbits and Pinch Punch traditions, eveyone it slightly different. Yes, we do miss our mothers at this time of year especially. I'm so glad your Mother kept active and well into her 90th year:)
DeleteAwwww!! This is a lovely five Rosie, I love the pictures of your mum, she was so pretty. My eldest daughter had two boys born on the 29th February in her class in primary school, they were actually on a residential school trip, on their birthdays when it was a leap year in 2006, imagine their parents missing it. Have a lovely weekend and take care on Sunday xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame for the parents to miss the actual birthday day of their leap year boys. Hope you too have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteA lovely five. We always say "pinch and a punch' at the start of every month and the second person retaliates with 'hit and a kick' for being so quick'...kindly of course. Like the look of A Month in the Country. Haven't read that one!
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying people's traditions at the 1st of the month. A Month in the Country is a gentle, bitter sweet novella, easy to read but stays in the memory:)
DeleteI had forgotten about white rabbits we used to say it as children but not for many years now...
ReplyDeleteI must admit I still mutter White Rabbits to myself if I remember it is 1st March of course, it's the remembering to say it before you say anything else that is difficult:)
DeleteI learned so much today from reading your blog. Thank you for the story about St David. The white rabbit is adorable, too. The photo collage you created of your dear Mom is so beautiful. May you have a fabulous weekend, Pat xx
ReplyDeleteSt David is interesting isn't he? Also the traditions behind his saints day. Hope you have a lovely weekend too:)
DeleteGood group of five, I know the 30 days hath one too, but not familiar with the others. Rabbits are always a good choice for pictures, always make me smile. Like you I've read Daughter of Time numerous times. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI remember listening to a radio play of Daughter of Time too, which was interesting. Rabbits do make you smile don't they?:)
DeleteIt certainly has been a busy week for events this week hasn't it. Lots going on to keep us busy at this time of year. I am sure that your Mum would like you to think of her on Sunday and I am sure you have many wonderful memories of her! Thank you for sharing at Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy - hope you are feeling a lot better. Have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteI love all these old sayings and very often wonder where some of them originate. I remember pinch punch the first of the month, never liked that one very much as it could be painful! White rabbits is a much better one. xx
ReplyDeleteI expect we learned them all by rote at school just as we did the times tables but they do stick in the mind and some are still relevant today:)
DeleteLovely post, I remember saying White Rabbits, and often try my look at the beginning of every month :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful to read and bunny photo so cute..
Have a lovely week.
Amanda xx
Thanks, Amanda glad you enjoyed the post. Have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteMy first time visit to your blog ... coming to you from Five on Friday. So glad I stopped by. Enjoyed your lovely post.
ReplyDeleteI see we share a love for Enchanted April, which makes me want to find the other two books you mention as I have not read those. Always happy to find new books and authors to read.
Wishing you a happy Mothering Sunday (we have Mother's Day in May here in Canada).
Brenda
Hello Brenda and welcome, glad you enjoyed the post. Enchanted Aoril is a super book isn't it? I'm sure you would like A Month in the Country too. Hope you have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteSomething got lost crossing the ocean. American author Susan Branch, who wrote a beautiful book about your country called "A Fine Romance, Falling in Love With the English Countryside", always says "Rabbit, rabbit" on the first of each month.
ReplyDeleteHello Patsy - that is fascinating, it looks as if the author lost the White bit or perhaps the people she met whilst over here said 'rabbits' rather than 'white rabbits' also it was usually said three times not twice. These sayings get changed across the country here let alone across oceans:)
DeleteI love your five Rosie. My hubby came downstairs on 1 March shouting white rabbit, white rabbit - I thought there was one outside!
ReplyDeleteHa, Ha - you might have thought it was 1st April too. I love to hear about the old traditions still being remembered:)
DeleteThe rabbit is very cute. It's always so interesting to discover the origin of these sayings. I've owned a copy of 'the Daughter of Time' since I was a teenager but not read 'A Month in the Country' (although I've seen the film). I must give it go. The photos of your mum are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe film is very true to the book of Month in the Country and a lovely read, I'm sure you would enjoy it. Daughter of Time I've had since I was a teenager too, its a wonderful book:)
DeleteMy son's girlfriend has her birthday on 29th February and she celebrates on MArch 1st too. I celebrated my first ever English Mother's Day this year as my daughter is living in the UK. Mother's Day here in AUstralia is the second SUnday in May so I get two this year. How nice for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you get to have two Mother's Days I hope you enjoy them both:)
DeleteFab photos - and yes March has certainly made itself known weather-wise hasn't it? Let's hope it settles down and sends the sun along soon #fiveonfriday
ReplyDeleteI wonder what winter still has in store for us through early Spring, we've had such odd weather this year:)
DeleteWe say Happy Rabbit Rabbit Day on the first of the month. So silly and fun. March is alternately sunny and wet here, but so far I think the sun is winning. The Enchanted April is a favourite of mine. I've not heard of A Month in the Country but will look for it.
ReplyDeleteVisiting From Five on Friday.
I've really enjoyed reading other people's traditions and sayings for rabbits and the first of the month. I think everywhere is a little different. I hope you enjoy A Month in the Country:)
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