LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.24 (04) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  24 January 2008 - Volume 04
=========================================================================

From: Theo Homan <theohoman at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.23 (05) [E]

> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Traditions
[...]
>
> I'm revisiting the traditional names of months,...
I use Modern Low Saxon as the
> focus, in part because the
> system is still more or less intact in this
> language. I am adding Old German
> data because most of them are closely linked.
> Unfortunately, there are gaps
> as far as Old Frisian and Old Norse are concerned.
[...]

Reinhard,

I think that Old Norse is not much of any use here.
I think we must rely on the farmer-daughters and -sons
between our lowlands-colleagues who vaguely remember
their grandparents using names of months they never
had heard elsewhere.

In Old Norse months had names [as: Eggtíð in old
Iceland, the 7th month], and also an ethymological
name [Óski], and each month was dedicated to a god
[for this month: Baldr] and this month / god had a
housing [in this case: Breiðablik, i.e. Twins].

Pfffff...

As I foresee that some among us will show renewed
interest in the complicated matters of the calenders
of our forefathers [some of them used calenders
starting with the lenghening of the days, and others
starting with the harvest, and this person's calender
starts exactly on the 1st of january], and will begin
thinking again about Julian and gregorian Calenders,
let me point to 2 free software calenders that compare
different kind of calenders:

- 'Calendar Magic' at: www.stokepoges.plus.com

and [with many figures, numbers and data]:

-  'Kalendis'  at: www.sym454.org

vr.gr.
Theo Homan

----------

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Traditions

Thanks bunches, Theo.

By the way, I keep wondering why in Old English and Old German May is
referred to by "three milks":


   - *May*:
      - *Mai ~ Maimaand * ("May month")
         - OS *winnemânut*h ("bliss month")
         - OLF *winnemânôth*
         - OG *winnimânôd*
         - *OE þrimilcemōnaþ ("three-milks month")*
         - *OG drîmilki*

Might it be because three types of farm animals have had their young by
then?

Correction and additions:


   - *February*:
      - *Februaar ~ Feverwaa*r
      - *Iesmaand ("ice month")*
      - *Horning ~ Hornung *("hoar month")
         - < OS *horningmânôth*
         - OG *hornung*
      - *Lammermaand* ("lambs month")
      - * Fastelavendmaand* ("Shrovetide month")
      - *Schäperwahrdi* ("Watch out, Shepherd!" jocular)
         - OE *solmōnaþ* ("sun month"?)



   - *March*:
      - *Märzmaand* ("March month")
      - *Lentmaand* ("Lent month")
         - < OS *lentînmânuth*
         - OLF *lentinmânôth*
         - OG *lenzinmânôd*
         - *OE hrēþmōnaþ ("glory month")*



   - *November*:
      - *November*
      **
      - *Nävelmaand ~ Nevelmaand* ("fog month")
      - *Windmaand* ("wind month")
         - OS *hervistmânuth* ("harvest/autumn month") [cf.
         September]
         - OLF *hervistmânôth*
         - OG *herbistmânôd* [cf. September]
         - OS *blôtmânuth* ("sacrifice month")
         - OE *blōtmōnaþ*
         - OG *wintarmânôd*  ("winter month"*)* [cf. January,
         December]

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lowlands-l/attachments/20080124/ba734890/attachment.htm>