Wednesday 29 February 2012

Leap Year

2012 is a leap year and Wednesday 29th February is a leap day.

Once every four years, an extra day is added to the Gregorian Calendar to bring the solar year of 365 ¼ days into line with the calendar year of 365 days.

Traditionally, this is the one day of the year when a woman can ask a man to marry her.
One quaint old custom has it that if a man refuses a proposal, he must buy the woman a dress. Anyone adding to their wardrobe today?

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Pink sky at night

Pin stripes of sky pink
Promise a fine tomorrow:
Is spring in the air?

Friday 17 February 2012

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent, a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday.

This is the last chance to use up foods that aren't allowed in Lent, (a period of abstinence) such as butter and eggs, which are among the ingredients of pancakes.

Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year, this year it is Tuesday 21 February.

The word Shrove comes from the old verb "shrive" meaning to confess. In the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins and obtain forgiveness on Shrove Tuesday.