February Frolics … and assorted saints

February in England has a multitude of ways to forget the doom and gloom of an apparently everlasting winter.

For instance in a more leisurely time – and before the Recruiting Agencies competed for our paltry pounds, Hiring Fairs were held around the country after Candlemas.

Candlemas was a quarter day, and one especially where land rental agreements expired. And many farmers completed their accounts before the expense of the new Spring sowing season began.

As well, the eel and salmon fishermen prepared their nets ready for their catching season – and we can find reminders of this in some of the net blessing festivals which still survive in some areas.

While salmon is not as common as before, there is nothing quite so good or so English as a traditional eel pie.

February is also the celebration of St Brigit – a Christianised version of the Imbolc festival of the Celtic Goddess Bride. In both cases the saint/goddess is celebrated particularly by young girls - and there are still some country lasses who will sneak out early on the morning of the 2nd of February to gather the dew from the plants to make a magical face wash. It is reputed to ensure youth and beauty from year to year.

I must be an example of what happens when you stop doing it!!

Now the 3rd of February is St Blaise’s Day, along with St Werburga and St Ia’s Day. There must be one of these which can help you out.

St Blaise was reputed to be a 4th century doctor, who has become the patron saint of those suffering sore throats – and in some strange fashion, also of the wool-combers. Hence the wool centres in England, such as Bury St Edmunds, York and Guildford once held feasts to St Blaise on this day.

St Werburga was a daughter of a 7th century King of Mercia – and St Ia was an Irish virgin who fled some nameless disaster and ended up in Cornwall.

Strangely London also has an association with the wool saint, St Blaise. At the Catholic Church, St Ethelreda’s in Ely Place – they conduct the Ceremony of the Blessing of the Throat, where after being blessed two candles are tied together and touched to either side of the sufferer’s throat. I am not sure if they are lit first – but if so there could be some unexpected outcomes.

The sore throat syndrome also exists in East Bergholt; where they bless the sacred water, which is then sent wherever there are sufferers of throat complaints. I wonder if they still do so … I have this slight problem with a ‘ahem ahem’ slight tickle in my throat and would be grateful for the help from St Mary’s Abbey.

And finally the 4th February celebrates an English first … the only monastic order founded in England. It was the brain child of St Gilbert who hailed from Sempringham in Lincolnshire and came to be in the 12th century. February 4th is now known as St Gilbert’s Day.

When I first heard about this day in my childhood, I was firmly convinced that St Gilbert was really Gilbert Harding … but that is probably too ancient for most of you – sigh!

I’ll have to dig out some of that dew collected on Candlemas morn – let’s see if it still works from here!!

Now I know you are just straining at the leash to get out and start celebrating!  I have searched my references and cannot find a patron saint of booze, plonk, wine or cider for February - which I think is a slight oversight on someone's part - so I am willing to assign an obscure English saint to oversee this role.

So off you go - and raise a glass or three to the memory of St Dorothea; whose day is the 6th February and has no further claim to fame.  So she may as well be useful so I am assigning her the care of the drinkers in February - and if you wake up with a sore throat then St Blaise is to hand.

But I am sorry - with the hangover you're on your own!