The First of February and Other Days of Similar Significance.

[Richard Tarleton]

Cinco de mayo

[usher]

And also today---13 Pluviose CCXXIV.

[johncorrigan]

There's this, which my mother taught me, used by the Scots to calculate Easter:

The Date of Easter (in Scots)

First comes Candlemas.
An syne the new meen,
The first Tuesday aifter that
Is Fastern' Een.
That meen oot,
An the neist meen's hicht,
On the first Sunday aifter that
Is Pess richt.

I could imagine Macbeth's witches reciting that, except they probably wouldn't have been very interested in a religious festival.

Thanks for that, mangerton...found it fascinating and enjoyable.

[usher]

There's this, which my mother taught me, used by the Scots to calculate Easter:

The Date of Easter (in Scots)

First comes Candlemas.
An syne the new meen,
The first Tuesday aifter that
Is Fastern' Een.
That meen oot,
An the neist meen's hicht,
On the first Sunday aifter that
Is Pess richt.

I could imagine Macbeth's witches reciting that, except they probably wouldn't have been very interested in a religious festival.

Many thanks for this! I hadn't come across the rhyme though I was aware of the term Fastern Een. A pity the old names have gone and we no longer have the Daft Days starting on Yule Een, through Yule itself and Sweetie Scone Day (anglice Boxing Day) to Hogmanay (the only one in use, though being replaced among the young by the American import 'New Years') and Ne'erday.

[Flosshilde]

If Candlemass be fair and clear
There'll be two winters in the year.

Isn't there always? Or doesn't winter start before January 1st?

[johncorrigan]

There's this, which my mother taught me, used by the Scots to calculate Easter:

The Date of Easter (in Scots)

First comes Candlemas.
An syne the new meen,
The first Tuesday aifter that
Is Fastern' Een.
That meen oot,
An the neist meen's hicht,
On the first Sunday aifter that
Is Pess richt.

I could imagine Macbeth's witches reciting that, except they probably wouldn't have been very interested in a religious festival.

I sent this to my pal mangerton and he enjoyed it also and sent this back which it I thought interesting.

He said,'I wasn't familiar with the term pess. In Orkney Easter is peace Sunday - must be related to Paques etc

Ags. 1949 Forfar Dispatch (21 April):
She promised tae gie me a noo hat tae wear on Easter Sabbath so that I wudna be Paice Shad.

Ags. 1960 :
From two octogenarian Episcopalian ladies: “My sister is a Paskieshad”, i.e., did not wear anything new for Easter.'

[mangerton]

I sent this to my pal mangerton and he enjoyed it also and sent this back which it I thought interesting.

He said,'I wasn't familiar with the term pess. In Orkney Easter is peace Sunday - must be related to Paques etc

Ags. 1949 Forfar Dispatch (21 April):
She promised tae gie me a noo hat tae wear on Easter Sabbath so that I wudna be Paice Shad.

Ags. 1960 :
From two octogenarian Episcopalian ladies: “My sister is a Paskieshad”, i.e., did not wear anything new for Easter.'

Glad your pal found it interesting, and thanks for passing on his comments. I've not come across pess, pace or paice in any other context, though I am aware of French Pâques, and Latin Pascha.

What a great word "Paskieshad". I must see if any Dundonian Episcopalians know of it.

Warning: Beware googling "pascha".

[Flosshilde]

Warning: Beware googling "pascha".

Yes - this is pretty horrifying -

"Pascha is a traditional style barbers offering hair & scalp, massage and skin treatments and products in Alderley Edge, Cheshire."

I mean, they've left out the apostrophe