ST201905

STORIES BEHIND

SUPERSTITIONS

Why ‘Marry in May and Rue the Day’? Our ancestors had

many reasons to wed another month

As the Roman poet Ovid wrote: “It is bad luck to marry

in May”. May marked the Roman festival of Lemuria,

when spirits were said to haunt weddings. So surely

you’d go for June, named after Juno, Goddess of marriage.

Christians, meanwhile, dedicated the month to the

Virgin Ma(r)y, so it wasn’t the month you should kiss – or

do anything else to – your bride. At one time, the church

banned marriages in a set period beginning soon after

Easter, therefore often ruling out May dates.

Another theory is that not marrying in May was

rising above animal instincts. The Greeks said that May

was “a month for donkeys to get married”. Some

superstitions were more specific about how you would

“rue the day”: that your first born would be an idiot, or

it would make for a wife who wasn’t thrifty. To this we

simply say: “Marry in May, and enjoy your day” (and

all the years that follow).

Provisions?Check.Protectivegear?Check.

Can’t chat, I’m afraid; I’m finishing off some

preparations. I’m hoping to take part in the

first unmanned mission to... well, I haven’t

decided yet. I’m taking Bertie next door

though – just so I get to say “the beagle has

landed”, really. And the countdown has

begun... 3, 2, 1, we’re off! One small step for

dog, one giant leap for dogged enthusiasm.

Tweet us a pic of your #dogsinblankets or

#catsonmats @simplethingsmag

TIPPLE OF

THE MONTH

Germany’straditionaldrinkforMaifest

(theirMayDay),is a punchofwineand

champagne, with sweet woodruff, which

is f lowering about now. Prep in advance, or

do as a busy German might and buy

waldmeister syrup instead.

SERVING NOTES: let your woodruff

wilt to release its fragrance. Submerge

leaves (not stems!) into a jug of dry white

wine. Take out after a couple of hours and

top up with more wine and champagne.

Add lemon juice, strawberries and mint.

Thejoys oftheGermanspring

• in ff le form

MAIBOWLE

DOGS IN BLANKETS

The secret thoughts of readers’ pets:

Skye, 21 months, cocker spaniel

Wa nt to ch a rg e

your phone

swiftly?

Switching it to

airplane mode

helps it charge

that little bit

quicker.

HOUSEHOLD