CuriousCalendars
@curiouscalendars.bsky.social
A 3-woman team celebrating seasonal change in Britain, through it's customs, it's curiosities and its cultural landscape.
Pinned
Hello Bluesky! Three of the authors of Nature's Calendar are at it again, but this time we are charting the curious world of the British customary year.
If you don't know your Whuppity Scoorie from your Hare Pie Scramble, then follow along for the wonderful weirdness of British customs, old & new.
If you don't know your Whuppity Scoorie from your Hare Pie Scramble, then follow along for the wonderful weirdness of British customs, old & new.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
#ArtDD2025
Humboldt penguin
Not brilliant art but I couldn't resist this little fellow.
📷 by @darrensmithphotos.bsky.social with thanks.
Humboldt penguin
Not brilliant art but I couldn't resist this little fellow.
📷 by @darrensmithphotos.bsky.social with thanks.
March 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
#ArtDD2025
Humboldt penguin
Not brilliant art but I couldn't resist this little fellow.
📷 by @darrensmithphotos.bsky.social with thanks.
Humboldt penguin
Not brilliant art but I couldn't resist this little fellow.
📷 by @darrensmithphotos.bsky.social with thanks.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Eastern Bluebird
Studies in blue...
Studies in blue...
March 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Eastern Bluebird
Studies in blue...
Studies in blue...
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Appeal Court *very slightly* reduces sentences on some of the 16 peaceful climate protesters, jailed for total of 41 years. This isn’t justice. People desperate for climate action to save lives treated like organised criminals, while big oil & gas get away with ecocide @defendourjuries.bsky.social
Just Stop Oil: Co-founder's sentence reduced in Court of Appeal
Sixteen climate protesters were jailed last year for their roles in Just Stop Oil demonstrations.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Appeal Court *very slightly* reduces sentences on some of the 16 peaceful climate protesters, jailed for total of 41 years. This isn’t justice. People desperate for climate action to save lives treated like organised criminals, while big oil & gas get away with ecocide @defendourjuries.bsky.social
Today is Shrove Tuesday - or Pancake Day! It marks the beginning of Lent, when, historically, the church expected people to give up eggs, meat, cheese, and sex! The exact list of restrictions has varied over time, but in early medieval times you were expected to fast all day too, a bit like Ramadan.
March 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Today is Shrove Tuesday - or Pancake Day! It marks the beginning of Lent, when, historically, the church expected people to give up eggs, meat, cheese, and sex! The exact list of restrictions has varied over time, but in early medieval times you were expected to fast all day too, a bit like Ramadan.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
February 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Some sense here from @henrydimbleby.bsky.social on the land use framework consultation. Nothing more critical than getting land use and the wrong drivers changed and climate and nature and health crises kick in
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
That new land use policy that the Tories call ‘national suicide’? It’s urgent, essential – and their idea | Henry Dimbleby
No, it isn’t a leftwing plot, it’s a proposal I authored for the Conservatives in 2021. And it could be brilliantly transformative for England, says Henry Dimbleby, managing partner of Bramble Partner...
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Some sense here from @henrydimbleby.bsky.social on the land use framework consultation. Nothing more critical than getting land use and the wrong drivers changed and climate and nature and health crises kick in
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
These spiders at Ebbsfleet are going to be the new bat tunnel, aren't they? A stick used to beat those who keep pointing out that people and nature do not live in different worlds, and that habitat degradation has very significant economic impacts.
Blow to Reeves as endangered spiders halt Government’s plans for 1,300 new homes
A small colony of endangered spiders has halted the development of more than a thousand new homes in a blow to the Government’s growth plans.
www.yahoo.com
February 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
These spiders at Ebbsfleet are going to be the new bat tunnel, aren't they? A stick used to beat those who keep pointing out that people and nature do not live in different worlds, and that habitat degradation has very significant economic impacts.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Around 400,000 people work in universities across the UK, and more then 200,000 of them are academics.
The closures and job losses we’re seeing in the sector just now are a major industrial crises affecting the key workplaces and economic drivers of hundreds of towns and cities.
The closures and job losses we’re seeing in the sector just now are a major industrial crises affecting the key workplaces and economic drivers of hundreds of towns and cities.
February 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Around 400,000 people work in universities across the UK, and more then 200,000 of them are academics.
The closures and job losses we’re seeing in the sector just now are a major industrial crises affecting the key workplaces and economic drivers of hundreds of towns and cities.
The closures and job losses we’re seeing in the sector just now are a major industrial crises affecting the key workplaces and economic drivers of hundreds of towns and cities.
So, today is St Valentine's Day!
The origins of Valentine's Day are unclear but by the C14th there was an established association of the day with 'love', and people were referring to their lovers as 'valentines'.
It was believed that birds chose their mates on the 14th Feb.
The origins of Valentine's Day are unclear but by the C14th there was an established association of the day with 'love', and people were referring to their lovers as 'valentines'.
It was believed that birds chose their mates on the 14th Feb.
February 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
So, today is St Valentine's Day!
The origins of Valentine's Day are unclear but by the C14th there was an established association of the day with 'love', and people were referring to their lovers as 'valentines'.
It was believed that birds chose their mates on the 14th Feb.
The origins of Valentine's Day are unclear but by the C14th there was an established association of the day with 'love', and people were referring to their lovers as 'valentines'.
It was believed that birds chose their mates on the 14th Feb.
2nd of Feb is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Purification of St Mary, in the Christian calendar, when churches were filled with candles.
Candlemas is closely associated with snowdrops, in bloom now, the white flowers symbolising Mary's return to 'purity', 40 days after Christ's birth.
Candlemas is closely associated with snowdrops, in bloom now, the white flowers symbolising Mary's return to 'purity', 40 days after Christ's birth.
February 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
2nd of Feb is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Purification of St Mary, in the Christian calendar, when churches were filled with candles.
Candlemas is closely associated with snowdrops, in bloom now, the white flowers symbolising Mary's return to 'purity', 40 days after Christ's birth.
Candlemas is closely associated with snowdrops, in bloom now, the white flowers symbolising Mary's return to 'purity', 40 days after Christ's birth.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
We can easily spare a tenth of England for nature without affecting food production!
20% of our land produces just 3% of our food.
Vast swathes of our uplands are owned by about 150 wealthy landowners who use it for shooting grouse, and set fire to our biggest carbon sink, our peat bogs...
20% of our land produces just 3% of our food.
Vast swathes of our uplands are owned by about 150 wealthy landowners who use it for shooting grouse, and set fire to our biggest carbon sink, our peat bogs...
January 31, 2025 at 8:43 AM
We can easily spare a tenth of England for nature without affecting food production!
20% of our land produces just 3% of our food.
Vast swathes of our uplands are owned by about 150 wealthy landowners who use it for shooting grouse, and set fire to our biggest carbon sink, our peat bogs...
20% of our land produces just 3% of our food.
Vast swathes of our uplands are owned by about 150 wealthy landowners who use it for shooting grouse, and set fire to our biggest carbon sink, our peat bogs...
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Imagine if we could stop offshore drilling at the dawn of the oil age.
This is exactly where we’re at with the deep sea mining industry.
We must not let history repeat itself.
Let’s #StopDeepSeaMining
🎨 @maxgustafson.bsky.social
This is exactly where we’re at with the deep sea mining industry.
We must not let history repeat itself.
Let’s #StopDeepSeaMining
🎨 @maxgustafson.bsky.social
February 1, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Imagine if we could stop offshore drilling at the dawn of the oil age.
This is exactly where we’re at with the deep sea mining industry.
We must not let history repeat itself.
Let’s #StopDeepSeaMining
🎨 @maxgustafson.bsky.social
This is exactly where we’re at with the deep sea mining industry.
We must not let history repeat itself.
Let’s #StopDeepSeaMining
🎨 @maxgustafson.bsky.social
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Today is World Wetlands Day, where we celebrate this remarkable habit. This is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve #WorldWetlandsDay
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded & drained by salt water brought in by the tides - an incredible habitat for wildlife and carbon capture.
📷 Stuart Conway
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded & drained by salt water brought in by the tides - an incredible habitat for wildlife and carbon capture.
📷 Stuart Conway
February 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Today is World Wetlands Day, where we celebrate this remarkable habit. This is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve #WorldWetlandsDay
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded & drained by salt water brought in by the tides - an incredible habitat for wildlife and carbon capture.
📷 Stuart Conway
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded & drained by salt water brought in by the tides - an incredible habitat for wildlife and carbon capture.
📷 Stuart Conway
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Time to go a-wassailing in @kateblincoe.bsky.social's @theguardian.com country diary celebrating this centuries-old pagan tradition of shared thanks and love.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
Country diary: Beating pots and pans, it’s time to go a-wassailing
Saxlingham Nethergate, Norfolk: With Venus shining down on us in the cold, we perform a ceremony that today has more to do with connecting to our roots than ensuring a good apple harvest
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Time to go a-wassailing in @kateblincoe.bsky.social's @theguardian.com country diary celebrating this centuries-old pagan tradition of shared thanks and love.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Trump's inauguration should mark a turning point. Time for the UK to stop trying to ride the US's coattails and start working with those who share our values and want the things we want.
January 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Trump's inauguration should mark a turning point. Time for the UK to stop trying to ride the US's coattails and start working with those who share our values and want the things we want.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
The tide is right out, and Dungeness's relentless shingle suddenly edges an expanse of surprising, shining sand. Here I find big, weighty hagstones, like dragon's teeth, where water meets sky meets rock.
January 20, 2025 at 11:10 AM
The tide is right out, and Dungeness's relentless shingle suddenly edges an expanse of surprising, shining sand. Here I find big, weighty hagstones, like dragon's teeth, where water meets sky meets rock.
Customs after our own hearts!
If you're in traveling distance of Dartmoor, come join us for a jolly wassail in Chagford on Saturday, 25 January.
January 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Customs after our own hearts!
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
I'm still absolutely wiped out from flu. I'm lucky though, one of my friends is in hospital with pneumonia. 😱
It clearly needs repeating: seeing people when you know you have flu or COVID, and giving them no choice to swerve it, is massively selfish and puts their health at risk. Do not do it.
It clearly needs repeating: seeing people when you know you have flu or COVID, and giving them no choice to swerve it, is massively selfish and puts their health at risk. Do not do it.
January 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I'm still absolutely wiped out from flu. I'm lucky though, one of my friends is in hospital with pneumonia. 😱
It clearly needs repeating: seeing people when you know you have flu or COVID, and giving them no choice to swerve it, is massively selfish and puts their health at risk. Do not do it.
It clearly needs repeating: seeing people when you know you have flu or COVID, and giving them no choice to swerve it, is massively selfish and puts their health at risk. Do not do it.
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
“It was the clearest, coldest day I have ever known....Roads were ridged and fanged with ice, opaque and shiny
as frozen rivers. Goldfinches sparkled in snow-lit hedges.
…Horizons were
misty, the sun cold with blue sky above, the north wind light.”
January entries, J.A. Baker, The Peregrine (1967)
as frozen rivers. Goldfinches sparkled in snow-lit hedges.
…Horizons were
misty, the sun cold with blue sky above, the north wind light.”
January entries, J.A. Baker, The Peregrine (1967)
January 10, 2025 at 9:28 AM
“It was the clearest, coldest day I have ever known....Roads were ridged and fanged with ice, opaque and shiny
as frozen rivers. Goldfinches sparkled in snow-lit hedges.
…Horizons were
misty, the sun cold with blue sky above, the north wind light.”
January entries, J.A. Baker, The Peregrine (1967)
as frozen rivers. Goldfinches sparkled in snow-lit hedges.
…Horizons were
misty, the sun cold with blue sky above, the north wind light.”
January entries, J.A. Baker, The Peregrine (1967)
Reposted by CuriousCalendars
Amanda Thomson speculates about our 'new normals' in her @theguardian.com country diary as she explores the drowned land around the River Spey.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
Country diary: Agitation in the air as the River Spey burst its banks | Amanda Thomson
Broomhill, Strathspey, Cairngorms: The fields became lochs, trees stand as islands. Everything felt restless and out of place
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Amanda Thomson speculates about our 'new normals' in her @theguardian.com country diary as she explores the drowned land around the River Spey.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
We're with Susan here: Plough Monday was the 1st Monday after Epiphany, but if Epiphany fell on a Monday, then Plough Monday should be the next week.
Here she talks about an alternative 'back to work' day after Epiphany. We don't know of any customs still practiced to celebrate St Distaff's though!
Here she talks about an alternative 'back to work' day after Epiphany. We don't know of any customs still practiced to celebrate St Distaff's though!
January 7th was known as Saint Distaff Day, the first 1/2-day back-to-work following the Christmas feast and Epiphany. The distaff is a tool used to spin linen or wool fibers into thread. Before industrialization, women spun by hand, and then thread was used to weave cloth on looms.
I suspect that next Monday would be Plough Monday on the old calendar, but tomorrow will still be Saint Distaff Day. and thus the first workday after the Christmas feasts. I wrote about Saint Distaff Day in our festschrift volume for Patrick Collinson.
January 7, 2025 at 5:50 PM
We're with Susan here: Plough Monday was the 1st Monday after Epiphany, but if Epiphany fell on a Monday, then Plough Monday should be the next week.
Here she talks about an alternative 'back to work' day after Epiphany. We don't know of any customs still practiced to celebrate St Distaff's though!
Here she talks about an alternative 'back to work' day after Epiphany. We don't know of any customs still practiced to celebrate St Distaff's though!