LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.25 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  25 January 2008 - Volume 02
=========================================================================

From: Jacqueline Bungenberg de Jong <Dutchmatters at comcast.net>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.24 (04) [E]

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

·         *May*:

o        *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?

Or maybe the farmer can milk the cows three times a day because the milk is
so plentyful? Jacqueline
----------

From: Danette & John Howland <dan_how at msn.com>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.24 (04) [E]

Hallo, Reinhard!

You wrote:


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?

Many years ago I read that this name came from the fact that the grass was
rich enough for the milch cows to be milked thrice a day. Now, I haven't
milked a cow since I was ten years old, but we never did more than two
milkings a day.

Best to all,

John Howland

----------

From: Theo Homan <theohoman at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.24 (07) [E]

> From: heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk
> <heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk>
> Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.24 (04) [E]
>
> From Heather Rendall
>

[...]
> *Because grass was so lush that cows had to be
> milked 3 times a day rather
> than the usual twice! *
>
> *I think it may also have something to do with the
> quality of the 'new'
> grass that it stimulated more milk than usual.*
>
> *Maybe a farmer on the list can confirm.*
>
> *best wishes*
>
> *Heather*

Hi,

Alas, I'm not a farmer. But milking by hand is so
time-consuming that a farmers-couple could not have
more than 10 or 12 cows.

vr.gr.
Theo Homan

----------

From: Tom Mc Rae <t.mcrae at uq.net.au>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2008.01.24 (07) [E]

In Scotland young children played a game in which one kid would pick a
butter cup,say "Lit me see whither Ye like buh/ur" as he held it below the
other's chin.
The yellow reflection confirmed they did.
Wonder if they do this nowadays ? We had simple pleasures in the 1940's.

On 25/01/2008, at 7:11 AM,
Theo Homan <theohoman at yahoo.com>  wrote:


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

 The farmers thought it was because of all those little yellow flowers the
cows were eating

now in the meadows, and they named these flowers: boterbloemen / buttercups.


Regards

Tom Mc Rae

Brisbane Australia

Oh Wad Some Power the Giftie Gie Us

Tae See Oorsel's as Ithers See Us

Robert Burns
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lowlands-l/attachments/20080125/09db0c86/attachment.htm>