pinning the mo on the alco

[adelaidesean]

Movember looming reminds me of something Rob Stephenson recently quipped. He gave me his permission to post it here.

I'd complained to the enfant terrible of Aussie SF about needing an extra two months a year to get everything done, and he'd agreed. To my surprise, he'd already named them.

Starch, he said, was "for the stiff time of year", and Exember for when you needed to escape from it all.

I'm not sure how to define stiffness in this context, but I do know what he means. I love the names, and demand that they be incorporated into the calendar as soon as possible.

This led me on a brief search to learn more about alternate month-named systems, and I was intrigued to discover almost immediately that January used to be "Wulf-Monath" in Old English, or the "Month of Wolves".

November was "Blood Month", which is even cooler. Less poetic are "Sprout Month" (February), "Noisy Month" (March), and "Weed Month" (August) but I can see the appeal.

Best of all was October, the month we're in right now, which used to be known as "Wine Month".

Hurrah!

Does anyone have any other suggestions for alternate or additional month names? My research powers are exhausted for the moment, but my curiosity remains untapped.

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Listening to: Tetsu Inoue - Symphony H2O

Comments

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

What fun. This is a wonderful tidbit. Seeing it posted here, where so many writers hang out, I wonder how many historicals and historical fantasies wil show up in the next year or two using this nomenclature for the months. *g*

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I hope so! One day I might get around to looking into the days of the week. (Somewhere in my notes I have a scheme that goes Oneday, Twoday, Threeday etc, which lacks poetry but does kinda work.)

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already seen it, I think you will enjoy the Wikipedia article about months (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Month). The Icelandic month names are fun, including such months as Short days, Fat Sucking month, and Nightless days.

While the Wikipedia article about the days of the week (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Days_of_the_week) has multiple warnings that it's not up to snuff, it still presents a wealth of information which looks extremely valuable, even if it does need to be verified. I especially like the charts which show the days of the week for different languages and countries. Each of the charts represents a different base system, with the first being based on the planets (and/or the Anglo-Saxon and Roman deities), and the remainder being based on numerical systems. I like the Turkish system--pazar (bazaar day), pazartesi (after the bazaar), sali (third day), çarsamba (fourth day), persembe (fifth day), cuma (gathering day), cumartesi (after the gathering)--with the references to the different activities that once were (still are?) part of the life of the communities, and the Thai system that, while using the planetary system, also assigns a color to each day.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Wow. The Days of the Week table is an impressive bit of data organising. Thanks for passing that on!

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I love collecting bits of trivia. I think links to stuff like this are the equivalent of my mother's file drawers full of newspaper clippings.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Do you want to know why November was called "Blood month"?

Because it was the month that the animals were slaughtered so the meat could be preserved against the winter. With very little feed available in the cold months, farmers in the Middle ages slaughtered all but their breeding stock for winter food.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I read something about that on the link I posted. Gruesome, sensible stuff, with a hint of poetry. What would we have now? Tax Month (July), Dry Month (January), Conspicuous Consumption Month (December)... bland bland bland.

[king-espresso.livejournal.com]

April should be the month of chocolate and war - Easter, Anzac Day...

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Zombie gods and dead Aussie soldiers. Someone should combine them!

[damienw]

Smarch. Lousy smarch weather.

Plus: Mocktober. For when you can't get real October.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Haha! Yes. I'd vote for them too.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Flanders and Swann have a lovely song about the different months in England.


http://www.nyanko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fas/hat_weath.html

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

"Bleak September's mist and mud
Is enough to chill the blood."

Lovely!

Eight Days a weakness

[(Anonymous)]

Actually while oneday, twoday, etc may lack poetry. The Chinese use that sort of nomenclature. One Month, two Month, and so forth.

As for new months, always remember there must be Dismember -- the month for resigning from clubs, unsubscribing from boring e-mail lists, and etc. It is also the Month of the Axe Murderer. And ideal for vivisecting frogs and small mammals.

Before I repeat myself, and everything else, the month of Remember. No not the month for recalling past events, but rather its more philosophically advanced homonym. Remember the month of being trapped in a time loop.

The last month of the year can be none than: Ember. Yes, the month for feeling burnt out.

And to take some weight off your mind: Unencumber or the month of going on a diet or doing too much spring cleaning.

best,

Jeff

[psycho-warbaby.livejournal.com]

So.. are you doing movember this year... ie someone I can sponsor, a good home-grown south Aussie.. or do I have to look elsewhere???

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I will be mo-free this year (kinda) but I'll post here if someone I know is sponsorable. I'm in the same boat as you, looking for someone to plug.