Sunday, June 24, 2007

Midsummers Day

Today is Midsummer's day, St. John's Day, one of the old quarter days of the year. Quarter days were the days when debts were settled, rents paid, that sort of thing. Christmas Day is counted as one as well as Lady's Day, March 25th, and Michaelmas, September 29th.

There is a tradition around Dundalk, Co.Louth, Ireland of lighting bonfires at the end of June, which I'm guessing might well be related to Midsummer's day, when bonfires were lit then in Ireland.

Traditionally one paid homage to fire, water and plants. So the bonfire bit makes sense. The water bit, might well be all the feicin rain we've been having lately, also good for putting out any bonfires: and the plants, well, they are benefiting from the rain, only too well!

13 comments:

Vesper said...

Barbara, thank you for your words of appreciation for my little story on Little Minx. I liked yours very much, I thought it was quite catchy and beautifully written.

Jon M said...

It never rains in Ireland...it's just low cloud! :)

Unknown said...

ha ha jon - tell that to the hordes forced to spend all weekend indoors!

Nice one vesper. Thanks. It was good fun writing for it and reading the other responses.

Unknown said...

That's very nice of you to celebrate my day. Do I get a present?

Unknown said...

john.g how about a wee drop... of rain? ;)

Unknown said...

We're getting that as I type this!

Anonymous said...

Hello to you and Raga.'

"all the feicin rain" what a lively way to put it.

Unknown said...

Hi Pearl - that would be the 'oirish' in me coming out!

John.g I hear the rain is causing floods beyond in the UK. Hope you're okay!

Anonymous said...

Its very, very wet here - deep water flowing back and forth, back and forth - ...

No, wait.. thats the sea!!

Jan said...

Good story on Minx's Blog.
Well done for writing when you have 6 children...Im in awe!

Unknown said...

Bonfire? That's a pagan influence. Litha, on the 21st, is a fire sabbat.

Unknown said...

We have been surrounded by devastation, but luckily it missed us!

Unknown said...

I would have thought so Minx.

Thank goodness John.g. I hope the weather takes a turn for the better now, we are due it!