The Everyday Lore Project

31 March 2020 – Birds Nebs

31 March 2020 – Birds Nebs

Today was all about the weather. Remember at the beginning of the month when the weather was all about coming in like a lion? Well, I don’t know about you, but it was pretty lamb-like round our way today. 

We’re in borrowed days again. This time March has borrowed three days from April, today being the last one. The weather over the previous three days was supposed to be crap, crappier and crappiest, with all sorts of animal cruelty thrown in. And while we did have a bit of a bluster (wind and weet) and then a touch of snow (snaw and sleet), today was far from sic a freeze It froze the birds nebs to the trees, at least down South that is.

But given this month we’ve celebrated the first day of spring twice and changed to British Summer Time, it’s hardly surprising that March is known for its ‘many weathers’. But take heart for:

In the beginning or in end
March its gifts will send

I’ll take toilet rolls and gin, thank you.

And a neb is a beak, apparently.


Resources

Chambers, R. (1847) Select Writings of Robert Chambers. Popular Rhymes Of Scotland. Edinburgh, W. & R. Chambers

Cooper, Q. and Sullivan, P. (1994) Maypoles, Martyrs & Mayhem: 366 Days of British Myths, Customs & Eccentricities, London, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Rhodes, C. (2001) One For Sorrow… A Book of Old-Fashioned Lore, London, Michael O’Mara Books Limited

Roud, S. (2006) The English Year: A Month-By-Month Guide To The Nation’s Customs and Festivals, From May Day to Mischief Night, London, Penguin Books

Published by Liza Frank

Author of My Celebrity Boyfriend. Obsessed with hula hooping, sons of preachermen and fresh dates, sometimes all at the same time. Curator of Folklore Agony and The Everyday Lore Project.

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