Sir Walter Scott recorded that ‘the last three days of March are called the borrowing days; for as they are remarked to be unusually stormy, it is feigned that March has borrowed them from April to extend his sphere of his rougher sway.’
There are various traditions and poems that record the borrowing days, and this is in the Scotch dialect:
March borrowed from April
Three Days, and they were ill:
The first was frost, the second was snaw,
The third was cauld as ever’t could blaw.
The Borrowing Days in Spain
There is a Spanish story which explains this a little more. A shepherd asked March to calm the winds to suit his flock of sheep, in return for a lamb. March compiled but, then, the Shepherd refused to hand over the lamb. So, March borrowed three days from April and made them fierce and stormy. Versions of this tale are known from Staffordshire, North England and Scotland. (Source ‘Weather Law’ by Richard Inwards 1994 (first published 1893).
Last year was windy with sunny spells followed by cold rain and fierce gusts. This year has been sunny and warm, but today there was a pretty fierce wind.
Warm days at the end of March or the beginning of April bring the Blackthorns into bloom. This often followed by a cold snap which is known as a ‘Backthorn Winter.’
For more on blossom and Haggerston Park follow my link to haggerston-park/
Nature in Art
For a glimpse of Nature in art, follow this link to the ‘Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek’ in Denmark. This is a Museum with ‘a vast collection of art and sculpture.’ The link will take you to the ‘After Nature’ Special Exhibition page. Here, you can see a few of the Spring paintings, including a Gauguin and a Van Gogh. But, you can see more, including the ‘After Nature’ exhibition if you download the app. Another excuse to visit the wonderful City of Copenhagen. On my first visit I stayed in a cabin on an historic Wooden Ship in the harbour.
On This Day.
2024 – I purchased the Chamber’s Book of Days, updated from the original 1864 publication, and began adding occasional ‘On This Day’ epilogues to my posts.
1461 – The Battle of Towton, England’s bloodiest battle. Part of the Wars of the Roses.
1871 – Official Opening of the Royal Albert Hall
1912 – Captain Scott’s last entry in his diary.
‘We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far, It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more.’
See also my post Lawrence-oates-i-am-just-going-outside-and-may-be-some-time.
1971 – Charles Manson found guilty
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