25th March: Lady Day

Lady Day, or the Annunciation, or "Our Lady's Day", the day that the Archangel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she was pregnant. 10 facts about Lady Day:

1. This day was once considered the date of the creation of the World.
2. Once, a country gentleman in England wrote a letter to a noble lady, only addressed To "The 25th of March, Foley place, London" and the post office duly delivered it to Lady Day.
3. It is a Quarter Day, traditionally when the rent became due, and farm worker's contracts began - so there would often be a mass migration of workers and their families moving to new farms.
4. Witches and Wiccans call this day the Return of the Goddess.
5. Until 1751 this was New Year’s Day in Britain. Then the Gregorian Calendar was adopted and the year began on January 1.
6. When Easter Sunday falls on the same date as Lady Day it is said to be an omen of evil for England. Luckily, not the case this year.
7. It is traditionally the day that the Swallows return for the summer.
8. A fine and clear Lady day means a good harvest.
9. Lord Baltimore's first settlers arrived in Maryland on this date in 1634, and so today is also Maryland Day. It is not known for certain whether the state was named for the Virgin Mary because they arrived on Lady Day, or whether it was named after Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I.
10. It's nine months till Christmas!