Tag Archives: flowers

Shakespeare’s Birthday in lockdown, 2020

The nearest Saturday to Shakespeare’s Birthday has for several decades been the day on which the town of Stratford-upon-Avon holds its biggest celebrations of the year. Birthday Celebrations have been held in some for or another for around two hundred … Continue reading

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Wordsworth, Shakespeare and nature in time of crisis

7 April 2020 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth. Since most of the world entered into lockdown, short walks have become our only distraction, and we have been taking more notice of the natural world. David … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and National Gardening Week

The first of May seems to have been one of Shakespeare’s favourite days. In Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice is compared with her cousin Hero : she “exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the … Continue reading

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Christmas traditions: the evergreen holly

Over Christmas we fill our houses with fresh flowers and plants: I’ve been able to enjoy lilies and hyacinths in full bloom, specially appreciating them at this cold, dark time of year. Spare a thought then for Shakespeare and his … Continue reading

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Stratford’s heritage of food and drink

Ever since the town of Stratford-upon-Avon was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1196 it has thrived on trade. The goods bought and sold were the agricultural produce of the area, still remembered in some of the … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the sweet of the year

This week the UK is experiencing the warmest weather of the year. Whether it’s because last year was so disappointing, or because spring arrived so late,  summer is bringing with it an explosion of blooms with, it seems to me, … Continue reading

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Celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday in his own town

This weekend is the most important of the year for Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s life and works are celebrated with a whole range of events, but the most important is the parade which this year takes place on Saturday morning, 20 April, … Continue reading

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There’s rosemary

It’s the official celebrations of Shakespeare’s Birthday here in Stratford-upon-Avon. For me, the part of this ceremony that really matters is the laying of the flowers on Shakespeare’s grave. The simple ritual was initiated by the boys of his own school, which … Continue reading

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