Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go.
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for a living.
And the child born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe, good and gay.[1]
A year ago, my second Grandson was born, on a Thursday. Fortune-telling poems are a big part of folklore, and it says something about the power of the rhyme that people can believe that a random rhyme should be allowed to shape someone’s whole life. Interesting that there are many versions of this rhyme, and I chose one that had an optimistic Thursday.
St Budoc
Today, is St Budoc’s Feast Day, although it’s on the 9th if you are Brittany. Boduc either means “saved from the waters” or more likely ‘Victory’ – this etymology is shared by Queen Boudicca. His mother was a Princess whose evil Mother-in-law, persuaded her son that his wife was unfaithful. He ordered that the pregnant Princess be thrown into the sea in a wooden cask. They floated around for 5 months, until Budoc was born. They landed in Cornwall, and then went to Ireland. Budoc’s dad realised he had been fooled and came to rescue his wife. But they both died and Budoc became a monk, and then a famous Bishop in late 6th Century Brittany at Doll. St Budoc was worshipped in Pembroke, Cornwall, Devon, Brittany, and Oxford. But very little is known for sure about him.
Monday’s Child published in 2023. St Budoc added in 2024
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