Sunday 1 May 2011

Did You Know...?

May 3rd is Rowan Tree Day.  This was when country folk used to take a sprig of rowan indoors to protect the building and its occupants against witches and disease! People also carried sprigs of rowan to ease rheumatism (hmm, might try that).

OK, so what has that got to do with writing? Well... I woke up this morning wearing my 'other' hat - the one that puts itself on my head when the muse thinks it's time to write a short story for a woman's magazine - and there was this character saying, "Rowan". I didn't know if she was telling me that was her name so I looked in one of my books of country lore and that's when I learned about May 3rd.
Rowan as a girl's name means red-haired one but the character talking to me didn't have red hair.
So, I suspect she either has a Rowan tree in her garden, or she'll be going somewhere there's a Rowan tree. Either way, the tree (or its flowers, berries or bark) obviously plays a big part in her story.
I guess I'll be spending the May Bank Holiday finding out why.
What will you be doing?
 

7 comments:

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

What a fascinating post. I didn't know any of that, but found it very interesting, thanks.

I'll be working on my wip, or rather reading it outloud and making any corrections before sending it off to a friend to read.

Have a lovely day and let's hope the weather improves a bit - it's rainy here today.

Pat Posner said...

Hi, Debs
I hope Grumps enjoys your readaloud!

Don't wish for too much sun because... "A hot May makes for a full churchyard".

Teresa Ashby said...

How interesting! I don't think I'd know a rowan tree if I saw one so I'm off to look them up now.

I love Rowan as a girl's name.

Sometimes May bank holiday falls on my birthday - and this year it does! And May 3rd will be my dogs' 11th birthdays.

Pat Posner said...

Hi, Teresa
Good to see you here - thanks for visiting.

You probably know the Rowan better as the Mountain Ash?

Happy Birthday to you, Tilly and Indy!

Anonymous said...

i think the rowan tree must be in a children book, too. Mom won't let me read her magazines.
Edward

Anonymous said...

theer could be one in Hingle.

Edward

Flowerpot said...

I love the name Rowan and had no idea about that - how very interesting. I spent May Day with a number of people, had a good walk then met some friend sin the pub!