Winter’s Day: An Anglo-Saxon Gardener’s New Year
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
November 7, 2019
On this day, my dear horticultural enthusiasts, we find ourselves on the precipice of a most intriguing temporal threshold.
For you see, according to numerous early medieval calendars, this very date marks the advent of winter - a day christened with the rather apropos title of 'Winter's Day'.
Imagine, if you will, the ancient Anglo-Saxons, their keen eyes observing the subtle shifts in nature's grand tapestry.
As the last amber leaves cling desperately to their branches and the air grows crisp with the promise of frost, they decreed this day to be the genesis of winter's reign.
One particularly evocative Anglo-Saxon poem paints a vivid picture of this seasonal transition. It speaks of Winter's Day "seizing sun-bright autumn with its army of ice and snow."
What a martial metaphor for the changing of the seasons!
One can almost hear the battle cry of winter as it storms the ramparts of autumn, holding the earth in its icy grip until the triumphant return of spring.
How fascinating it is to ponder that our forebears, those stewards of the land, held such a precise view of the seasons!
The venerable Old English poem of the Anglo-Saxon Calendar, known as the Menologium, boldly declares that winter shall endure for precisely 92 days, commencing on this very date and concluding its frosty tenure on February 6th.
One can't help but wonder how this ancient reckoning might align with our modern gardening calendars.
Would our Anglo-Saxon predecessors scoff at our tendency to wait for the winter solstice before declaring the season's arrival?
Or perhaps they would nod sagely, recognizing that the earth's rhythms often outpace our arbitrary designations.
As we stand upon this threshold of Winter's Day, let us take a moment to survey our gardens with the same keen eye as our ancestors.
What subtle changes have we overlooked? What preparations have we yet to make for the coming "army of ice and snow"?
Perhaps, in honor of this ancient tradition, we might embrace a touch of Anglo-Saxon wisdom in our horticultural pursuits.
Imagine the satisfaction of aligning our garden's winter preparations with this historical date.
Why not use this day to finally tuck those tender perennials in for their long winter's nap?
Or perhaps it's time to gather the last of the hardy herbs, preserving their essence to brighten the dark days ahead.
As we go about our gardening tasks, let us raise a toast (preferably with a warming mulled cider) to the ancient scribes who penned these poetic calendars.
Their insights into the rhythm of the seasons continue to resonate across the centuries, reminding us that in the grand cycle of nature, we are but the latest in a long line of observers and cultivators.
So, my fellow gardeners, as you don your woolen scarves and reach for your pruning shears, remember: according to ancient wisdom, winter has officially begun.
May your gardens slumber peacefully under winter's reign, gathering strength for the vibrant awakening that spring will surely bring!
For those eager to delve deeper into the fascinating world of medieval calendars and seasonal lore, I heartily recommend perusing the delightful blog A Clerk of Oxford.
Their entry on this very subject (aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2014/11/after-...) is a veritable treasure trove of historical horticultural insights.
