St Barnabas’ Day on 11 June traditionally marked the first day of the hay-cutting season.
In some parts of the country, flowers, especially white roses, are still worn to mark St Barnabas’ Day. The mowing season was an important time in the seasonal calendar, as a good supply of dry hay throughout the colder months ensured animals would be well fed. Heavy rain, which flattened the grass and made it impossible to scythe, could spell disaster.
Before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, St Barnabas’ Day used to coincide with the solstice, hence the saying ‘Barnaby bright, Barnaby bright, the longest day and the shortest night.’
Try: Hay-baked leg of kid goat (pp. 139–40)