Celebrating special occasions with you …

How shall we open the door of Spring
That Winter is holding wearily shut?
Though winds are calling and waters brawling,
And snow decaying and light delaying,
Yet will it not move in its yielding rut
And back on its flowery hinges swing,
Till wings are flapping
And woodpeckers tapping
With sharp, clear rapping
At the door of Spring.
(Ethelwyn Wetherald (1857 – 1940)

March is a month brimming with anticipation as winter recedes and spring begins to blossom. It is a month of renewal, offering a variety of special occasions and birthdays from Mother’s Day to Saint Patrick’s Day. Colour makes an appearance, changing the monochrome Ribble Valley landscape as spring flowers and frolicking baby lambs make their debut.

March table

Some say that March has a foot in winter and spring, and whilst some items remain, there are new pieces to add to your March table this month.

• Green or pink candles
• A bunch of daffodils
• Branches of blackthorn blossom
• Miniature irises
• Pebbles, twigs, moss and feathers

March at a glance

• Marie Curie Daffodil – Appeal month
• 1st 100m miles for March walk (Mind)
• 10th Mothering Sunday
• 4-10th British Pie Week
• 17th St Patrick’s Day
• 20th Spring Equinox – International day of happiness
• 31st Easter

Special occasions

1 – 31 The Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal is an annual fundraising campaign organized by the Marie Curie charity. It involves the sale of daffodil pins and various events to raise funds to support individuals and families living with terminal illnesses.

1st ‘100 Miles In March For Mind’ is a charitable initiative where participants challenge themselves to walk, jog, or run 100 miles throughout March, all in support of Mind, a leading mental health charity. The event promotes physical activity, which is beneficial for mental well-being, and champions the cause of mental health awareness, support, and advocacy. https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/100-miles-in-march-for-mind-2024/

4-10th British Pie Week —Pies have existed since about 2000 B.C. and have been loved by the British since the 12th century. Jus-Rol, a British pastry-rolling company, was invented this week in 2007 and has been celebrated annually since then. It’s the perfect opportunity to indulge in your favourite pie without worrying about the cost or the calories.

10th Mother’s Day is undoubtedly one of the most heart-warming celebrations of March. Usually observed on the fourth Sunday during Lent, this day is reserved for honouring and expressing our heartfelt gratitude towards mothers and mother figures. The traditional customs associated with this day revolve around the gifting of beautiful flowers, particularly the vibrant daffodils which are in full bloom during this time.

An equally cherished practice involves whipping up home-cooked meals or scrumptious desserts as a token of love and appreciation. For those searching for delectable recipe ideas to spoil their mothers, a traditional Simnel cake is ideal; get my recipe here.

If you would like to purchase a Mother’s Day gift from us, we have some beautiful items in store, ranging from our favourite Toasted Crumpet pamper products to home decorations and scarves and bags.

17th Saint Patrick’s Day is the annual celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, a day steeped in rich cultural and religious heritage dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland. Even though the roots of this day can be traced back to Ireland, the festivities have spread far and wide.

You can join in the festivities by wearing emerald green, listening to traditional Irish music and eating hearty Irish fare like Colcannon (a baked potato and onion dish), Irish stew of beef or lamb, rounded off with a pint of stout or an Irish coffee.

20th Spring Equinox represents a time for revival, rejuvenation, and new beginnings.

31st Three Easter Food Traditions
Ham served during the Easter holiday was made from meat that was originally slaughtered in the fall and cured throughout the winter months. Since the holiday of Easter falls in spring, this celebration would use the last of the winter-cured meats.

Eggs are traditionally connected with rebirth, rejuvenation, and immortality. Since Easter is celebrated as the resurrection of Jesus and is observed in the spring (a time when flowers, grass, and other vegetation are born again), there’s an obvious connection with this food that reminds people of rebirth.

Bread is a big part of many religious traditions and ceremonies, but the origin of hot cross buns predates Christianity in Europe. Supposedly, the buns were made to celebrate the spring equinox in pagan societies and have since been served during the Easter season.

Birthdays in March

If you have a birthday to celebrate in March, you can embrace the outdoors and hopefully think about alfresco celebrations for the first time this year. Your birth flowers are daffodils and jonquil (basically a different type of daffodil).

Aud’s March Kitchen

To help you celebrate British Pie Week, I have baked a special Salmon and Spinach Pie, which is ideal for lunch or supper. This isn’t a ‘pie’ in the traditional sense of the word but a twist on one, which I thought might be nice. This pie is super tasty and easy to make; it is simply a case of gathering all your ingredients together and layering it all up, as described below.

Have a lovely March.

Auds

References:
The Almanac – A Seasonal Guide to 2024
Farmers Almanac