Ancient Cornish name for the month: Jewel for the month: Garnet. Constancy. If Janiveer calends be summerly gay, The wind of the South will be productive of heat and fertility; the wind of the West, of milk and fish; the wind from the North, of cold and storm; the wind from the East, of fruit on the trees. Scotland. At New Year's tide Proverb in the North. A cold January, a feverish February, a dusty March, a weeping April, a windy May, presage a good year and gay. France. Warwickshire countrymen to ensure good luck bow nine times to the first New Moon of the year. A snow year, a rich year. The blackest month of all the year Through all the sad and weary hours We scarce believe in what we know— The empty pastures blind with rain. If the grass grow in Janiveer A fair day in winter is the mother of a storm. Under water famine, under snow bread. March in Janiveer, A year of snow a year of plenty. Spain. Winter time for shoeing; Devon. 1565 On Twelve-eve in Christmas, they used to set up as high as they can a sieve of oats, and in it a dozen candles set round, and in the centre one larger, all lighted. This in memory of our Saviour and His Apostles, lights of the world. Westmeath custom. In the South-hams of Devonshire, on the Eve of the Epiphany, the farmer attended by his workmen, with a large pitcher of cyder, goes to the orchard, and there, encircling one of the best bearing trees, they drink the following toast three several times: "Here's to thee, old apple-tree, Whence thou mayst bud, and whence thou mayst blow! Hats-full, caps-full! And my pockets full too! Huzza!" Old Custom of blessing Apple Trees on Twelfth Day. Apple-tree, apple-tree, "Twelfth-Day—came in a tiffany suit, white and gold, like a queen on a frost-cake, all royal, glittering, and Epiphanous." Elia. January the fourteenth will be either the coldest or wettest day of the year. Huntingdon. St. Anthony. (January 17th.) It is affirmed of him that all the world bemoaned his death, for afterwards there fell no rain from heaven for three years. St. Vincent. (January 22nd. Old Style. February 3rd. New Style.) Remember in St. Vincent's Day Winter's thunder's summer's wonder. St. Paul's Eve. (January 24th.) Winter's white shrowd doth cover all the grounde, Still round about the house they flitting goe, Dr. Forster. St. Paul's Day. If Saint Paul's Day be fair and clear, T. Passenger. Of Gardens. For the latter part of January and February, the mezerion tree, which then blossoms; crocus vernus, both the yellow and the gray; primroses, anemones, the early tulippa, hyacinthus orientalis, chamairis, frettellaria. Bacon. A January spring Pluck broom, broom still, Tusser. Good gardener mine, Tusser. A kindly good January freezeth pot by the fire. O Winter! wilt thou never—never go! David Gray. If the robin sings in the bush, then the weather will be coarse; but if the robin sings on the barn, then the weather will be warm. Norfolk. |