Rogation Days

Today was Rogation Monday.  The sun shone and it was warm enough to plant out our winter squash in the 'crib' planter and an overflow tub by our front window.  Then it was on to the back garden to plant out the runner beans in two raised beds.

The Rogation Days of this week which occur before Ascension Day on Thursday have a long history. I did a little research on the Web: they have not been much celebrated recently.  Rogation Days were traditionally a time for the minister and congregation to 'beat the bounds' of the parish and pray for God's blessing on crops and livestock.  These are the minor ones.  The name derives from the Latin verb rogo to ask.

The origins of this festival may be antique but are their principles still relevant?  We would say so.  We do not delineate the boundary by beating it with willow wands, but we shout at grey squirrels attempting short-cuts.  We maintain charitable relations with our neighbours - particularly over the topic of shared hedges, and are reasonably open to negotiation as to the height these should grow.  We shoo away predatory birds and errant dogs, and monitor our ever-tamer blackbirds.  We pray because we experience no contradiction between conservation, good husbandry (an intentional pun) and invoking a blessing on what we grow.  

Today as we planted out the runner beans I noticed how nice and crumbly the soil had become in one of our raised beds.  It was almost deserving of the old phrase 'a fine tilth'.  I do not ever remember achieving such a high grade before.  Perhaps here in a smaller space, in a harsher environment and with blessing we can enjoy fruitfulness.

A Postscript

I wrote this post after a happy morning in the garden and an afternoon with friends playing music.  Only later did I discover the tragic news concerning Manchester. My thoughts and prayers are with all Mancunians.