Shine on Harvest Moon …
13/09/2011 § 1 Comment
Oh – did you see the moon last night?
Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon up in the sky;
I ain’t had no lovin’ since January, February, June or July.
Snow time ain’t no time to stay outdoors and spoon;
So shine on, shine on Harvest Moon for me and my gal.
A bright and clear harvest moon brought back memories of old-time dancing at the village hall when I was ‘just a gal’!
Our old corrugated tin village hall was packed out every Monday evening with locals, as we were led through dance steps by an impatient, upright gent accompanied by his adoring wife. There were times, when learning a new dance, that a few of us would be almost totally consumed by fits of the giggles as we attempted to ‘hover and whisk’ and waltz around the hall.
The hall itself was split level, which complicated matters somewhat! There was always the chance that an during over-enthusiastic waltz someone might miss the corner and end up on the lower level! Farmers, shopkeepers, mums & dads, teenagers & pensioners and courting couples all circled around to the music and many toes were bruised by the following morning!
On special dance nights we’d be treated to a half-time feast of tea with sandwiches, cakes and trifles. In true village tradition, nothing was ever organised – food simply appeared with some firm favourites like Mrs P’s sponge cake topped with red jam and coconut and Joan’s cream trifle scattered with hundreds and thousands!
Sometimes the farmers arrived late, if the weather had been good and the harvest was coming in. Then they’d appear all freshly scrubbed and ruddy-faced, smelling of carbolic soap and Old Spice!
All our full moons have names – now I only found that out quite recently! A little research reveals that there are often several names for the same moon, but I think that September’s moon is quite safely named the Harvest Moon as it refers to the time of year after the autumn equinox when crops are gathered in. Maybe, before mechanisation, farmers would continue to harvest by moonlight – how romantic!
May all your dreams be waltzes under the moon!
Adaliza x
What a lovely post, thank you
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