"by Pat O'Connor and starring Colin Firth, Kenneth Branagh, Natasha Richardson and Patrick Malahide. Shortly before his death, Dave Sheasby completed a radio adaptation of the book, which was first broadcast on the BBC Radio 4 Saturday Play in November 2010 and repeated in May 2012. A Month in the Country (novel) A Month in the Country is the fifth novel by J. L. Carr, first published in 1980 and nominated for the Booker Prize. The book won the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1980. The plot concerns Tom Birkin, a World War I veteran employed to uncover a mural in"
"As with the word “Christmas”, the term Martinmas literally means ""Mass of Martin"", or the day when he is honoured in the Mass. Martinmas, as a date on the calendar, has two meanings: in the agricultural calendar it marks the beginning of the natural winter, but in the economic calendar it is seen as the end of autumn. The feast coincides not only with the end of the Octave of All Saints, but with harvest-time, the time when newly produced wine is ready for drinking, and the end of winter preparations, including the butchering of animals. (An old English saying"
"is ""His Martinmas will come as it does to every hog,"" meaning ""he will get his comeuppance"" or ""everyone must die"".) Because of this, St. Martin's Feast is much like the American Thanksgiving - a celebration of the earth's bounty. Because it also comes before the penitential season of Advent, it is seen as a mini ""carnivale"", with all the feasting and bonfires. As at Michaelmas on 29 September, goose is eaten in most places. Following these holidays, women traditionally moved their work indoors for the winter, while men would proceed to work in the forests. In some countries, Martinmas"
"St. Martin's Day Saint Martin's day, also known as the Feast of Saint Martin, Martinstag or Martinmas, as well as Old Halloween and Old Hallowmas Eve, is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours (Martin le Miséricordieux) and is celebrated on November 11 each year. This is the time when autumn wheat seeding was completed, and the annual slaughter of fattened cattle produced ""Martinmas beef"". Historically, hiring fairs were held where farm laborers would seek new posts. Saint Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier who was baptised as an adult and became a bishop in a French town."
"many mainland European countries tended to recognize Martinmas or St. Martin's Day (11 November), as the first calendar day of winter. The day falls at the midpoint between the old Julian equinox and solstice dates. Also, Valentine's Day (14 February) is recognized by some countries as heralding the first rites of spring, such as flowers blooming. In Chinese astronomy and other East Asian calendars, winter is taken to commence on or around 7 November, with the ""Jiéqì"" (known as 立冬 ""lì dōng""—literally, ""establishment of winter""). The three-month period associated with the coldest average temperatures typically begins somewhere in late November"
"Martinisingen Martinisingen (pronounced ""Martini-zingen""; literally ""Martin singing"" i.e. ""St. Martin Song"") is an old Protestant custom which is found especially in East Friesland, but also on the Lüneburg Heath and in other parts of Northern and Eastern Germany. It also goes under the names of ""Martini"" or ""Martinssingen"" and the Low German names of ""Sünnematten"" or ""Mattenherrn"" (today often erroneously corrupted to ""Matten Matten Mähren""). ""Martinisingen"" takes place on 10 November (similar to the Catholic ""Martinssingen"" on 11 November) with groups of people carrying their lanterns from house to house and singing traditional songs. ""Martinisingen"" is a custom with a"
"Heinrich vom Stein's Prussian reforms, liberated all the Prussian peasants by 11 November 1810 at the latest. This edict began the process of abolishing serfdom and its hereditary character. St. Martin's Day Saint Martin's day, also known as the Feast of Saint Martin, Martinstag or Martinmas, as well as Old Halloween and Old Hallowmas Eve, is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours (Martin le Miséricordieux) and is celebrated on November 11 each year. This is the time when autumn wheat seeding was completed, and the annual slaughter of fattened cattle produced ""Martinmas beef"". Historically, hiring fairs were held"
"Germany, the traditional sweet of Martinmas is ""Martinshörnchen"", a pastry shaped in the form of a croissant, which recalls both the hooves of St. Martin's horse and, by being the half of a pretzel, the parting of his mantle. In parts of western Germany these pastries are instead shaped like men (Stutenkerl or Weckmänner). In the United Kingdom, St. Martin's Day is known as ""Martinmas"" (or sometimes ""Martlemass""). It is one of the term days in Scotland, where some schools celebrate St. Martin's day. Many schools are also named after St. Martin. Martlemass beef was from cattle slaughtered at Martinmas"
"Martin, is celebrated with traditional dinners, while the day itself is rarely recognized. (""Morten"" is the Danish vernacular form of ""Martin"".) The background is the same legend as mentioned above, but nowadays the goose is most often replaced with a duck due to size, taste and/or cost. In Estonia, Martinmas signifies the merging of Western European customs with local Finnic pagan traditions. It also contains elements of earlier worship of the dead as well as a certain year-end celebration that predates Christianity. For centuries mardipäev (Martinmas) has been one of the most important and cherished days in the Estonian folk"
"naming it “Saint Martin” and marking a new discovery for the Western. He arrived on St Martin’s Day, November 11th 1493 It is a public holiday on both sides to commemorate this event. St Martin’s Day was an important medieval autumn feast, and the custom of eating goose spread to Sweden from France. In early November, geese are ready for slaughter, and on St. Martin's Eve (Mårtensafton), November 10, it is time for the traditional dinner of roast goose. The custom is particularly popular in Skåne in southern Sweden, where goose farming has long been practised, but it has gradually"
"St. Martin's Day. A widespread custom in Germany is bonfires on St. Martin's eve, called ""Martinsfeuer."" In recent years, the processions that accompany those fires have been spread over almost a fortnight before Martinmas. At one time, the Rhine River valley would be lined with fires on the eve of Martinmas. In the Rhineland region, Martin's day is celebrated traditionally with a get-together during which a roasted suckling pig is shared with the neighbours. The nights before and on the night of Nov. 11, children walk in processions carrying lanterns, which they made in school, and sing Martin songs. Usually,"
"Lutheran countries, the celebration is known as Fastelavn, and in areas with a high concentration of Anglicans (Church of England / U.S. Episcopal Church), Methodists, and other Protestants, pre-Lenten celebrations, along with penitential observances, occur on Shrove Tuesday. In Slavic Eastern Orthodox nations, Maslenitsa is celebrated during the last week before Great Lent. In German-speaking Europe and the Netherlands, the Carnival season traditionally opens on 11/11 (often at 11:11 a.m.). This dates back to celebrations before the Advent season or with harvest celebrations of St. Martin's Day. The Latin-derived name of the holiday is sometimes also spelled ""Carnaval"", typically in"
"the kermis would have been held in late July or early August), but the municipal council then decided to change this longstanding custom and fix the festival's timing at the third Sunday in August. After the village youth hold a parade, the focus shifts to the kermis square (""Kerbeplatz""), where the ""Straußpredigt"", a kind of “sermon”, is delivered. This is a rhyming summary of the year's events in the village. On Martinmas (11 November), the ""Martinsumzug"" (a parade) is held in late afternoon, and attended by many children, even from outside the village. Around the beginning of Advent, the association"
"time of the year) and have Jesus bringing the end of it, thus making the ""summer"" a gift from God. In Spain, St. Martin's Day is the traditional day for slaughtering fattened pigs for the winter. This tradition has given way to the popular saying """"A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín"""", which translates as ""Every pig gets its St Martin."" The phrase is used to indicate that wrongdoers eventually get their comeuppance. In Saint Martin, November 11 is commemorated as the date when Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, on his second journey into Antillean waters, landed on the island,"
"marking the end of the preparations for winter, such as salting meat and fish, storing the harvest and making preserves. Mārtiņi also marks the beginning of masquerading and sledding, among other winter activities. St. Martin's Day (""Jum San Martin"" in Maltese) is celebrated in Malta on the Sunday nearest to November 11. Children are given a bag full of fruits and sweets associated with the feast, known by the Maltese as ""Il-Borża ta' San Martin"", ""St. Martin's bag"". This bag may include walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, chestnuts, dried or processed figs, seasonal fruit (like oranges, tangerines, apples and pomegranates) and ""Saint"
"celebrations begin at the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of this eleventh day of the eleventh month (that is, at 11:11 am on November 11). In others, the festivities commence on St. Martin's Eve (that is, on November 10). Bonfires are built and children carry lanterns in the streets after dark, singing songs for which they are rewarded with candy. ""Martinloben"" is celebrated as a collective festival. Events include art exhibitions, wine tastings, and live music. “Martinigansl” (roasted goose) is the traditional dish of the season. In Austria St. Martin's Day is celebrated the same way as in Germany.The"
"moves each year, the legal Term Day of Whitsun was fixed in Scotland as 26 May in the Julian Calendar, which became 15 May under the Gregorian Calendar, adopted in Scotland in 1599. Lammas was celebrated on 1 August, the day the first fruits of the harvest were offered, the name coming from the Anglo-Saxon for 'loaf-mass' or 'bread-feast'. Martinmas, on 11 November, was originally the feast of Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and hermit. In Scotland, 1886 saw the term dates for removals and the hiring of servants in towns changed to 28 February, 28 May, 28"
"The most famous legend concerning him was that he had once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the latter from the cold. That night, he dreamt of Jesus, wearing the half-cloak and saying to the angels, ""Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is now baptised; he has clothed me."" Saint Martin died on November 8, 397. St. Martin was known as friend of the children and patron of the poor. This holiday originated in France, then spread to the Low Countries, the British Isles, Germany, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe. It"
"days as Candlemas on 28 February, Whitsunday on 28 May, Lammas on 28 August and Martinmas on 28 November, with Whitsunday and Martinmas being the two term days. This Act provides that any lease, agreement or undertaking, whether written or oral, which contains a specific or general reference to a term or quarter day, including those concluded before the change, shall be understood as referring to the new definitions of the days (i.e. as 28 February/May/August/November). Where it was intended in a contract concluded prior to the passing of the Act that a reference to a term or quarter day"
"and eating of domestic cuisine specialities. In May, just before the Statehood Day an Exhibition of Wines from Dugo Selo and Vrbovec wine-growing hills is organised on Martin Breg. Martinje (St. Martin's Day) is observed on 10 and 11 November. This is also celebrated as the Day of Dugo Selo when a huge village party is organised and must baptised on Central Square, on top of Martin Breg, in vineyards and pubs. Carnival is held in February, featuring masqueraded processions, selection of the best group and best individual mask. The Radio Martin anniversary is marked at the end of August"
"Mārtiņi Mārtiņi () or Mārtiņdiena is an ancient Latvian winter welcoming holiday, when the time of pieguļa and shepherding came to an end. According to a solar calendar, Mārtiņdiena marks the midpoint between the autumnal equinox (Miķeļi) and winter solstice (Ziemassvētki), and is celebrated in the middle of November. Mārtiņi ended Veļu laiks (Time of the Dead) and started Ledus laiks (Time of Ice), when the swamp became passable and raids of armed men sitting on horses were expected. The holiday has already acquired its name before the 16th century, during which happened the reformation of churches by Livonian Order's"
"Martius (month) Martius or mensis Martius (""March"") was the first month of the ancient Roman year until possibly as late as 153 BC. After that time, it was the third month, following ""Februarius"" (February) and preceding ""Aprilis"" (April). ""Martius"" was one of the few Roman months named for a deity, Mars, who was regarded as an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. March marked a return to the active life of farming, military campaigning, and sailing. It was densely packed with religious observances dating from the earliest period of Roman history. Because of its original"
"October of each year. The festival generally includes a live band, food vendors, local handmade crafts, and commercially made items. The Christmas season is celebrated in Martin with a light display that runs along a one half mile stretch. Lighted snowflakes, Christmas singers, reindeer, and other items associated with the season are situated along Main Street. As of September 2011, the town of Martin has a few Main Street business. A local ""gently used"" shop by the name of ""The One Stop Baby Shop"" is located at the caution light on Main Street. During the summer of 2011 an ice"
"the Orthodox Church, and in the Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian, and Methodist calendars, Advent commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmasthe Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (). It can fall on any date between 27 November and 3 December. When Christmas Day is a Monday, Advent Sunday will fall on its latest possible date. In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins on the sixth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday after St. Martin's Day (). Practices associated with Advent include keeping an Advent calendar, lighting an Advent wreath, praying an Advent daily devotional,"
"nights before and on the night of Nov. 11, children walk in processions carrying lanterns, which they made in school, and sing Martin songs. The day is celebrated on the evening of November 11 in a small part of Belgium (mainly in the east of Flanders and around Ypres). Children go through the streets with paper lanterns and candles, and sing songs about St. Martin. Sometimes, a man dressed as St. Martin rides on a horse in front of the procession. In some areas, there is a traditional goose meal, although in West Flanders there is no specific meal; in"
"about their lanterns. The food traditionally eaten on the day is goose, a rich bird. According to legend, Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise made by the geese betrayed his location to the people who were looking for him. In the east part of the Belgian province of East-Flanders (Aalst) and the west part of West Flanders (Ypres), traditionally children receive presents from St. Martin on November 11, instead of from Saint Nicholas on December 6 or Santa Claus on December 25. They also have lantern processions,"
"on 15 July and the other on Martinmas (11 November). By 1591 the July fair had been replaced by one on St Lawrence's day (10 August). In 1780 a third annual fair was introduced on 11 October. The Martinmas fair was the most important, and came to be called the ""pudding-pie fair"" after a type of plum pudding in hard-crust pastry that was baked in great numbers for the occasion. By the early 19th century the fair had been moved from Martinmas to 22 November. By 1863 the November fair was the only one to have survived. It continued until"
"Martinianus (bishop of Milan) Martinianus (or ""Martinus"", ) was Archbishop of Milan from 423 to 435. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is 2 January. A tradition associates Martinianus with the Roman family of the Hosii. According to the writings of Ennodius, bishop of Pavia in early 6th-century, Martinianus was elected bishop of Milan notwithstanding he had no desire for that position due to his humility and fear. He is mentioned in a letter written in 431 to Rufus of Thessalonica by the moderate Nestorian John of Antioch, who relates to have"
"""Mortensdag"", Finns - ""Martinpäivä"", while Estonians call it ""Mardipäev"". Since Middle Ages, this holiday is associated with the horse cult and knight traditions. In Austria, Germany and Netherlands, on Mārtiņi Eve happens a solemn children processions with candles and lanterns. The traditional festive meal on this day is a roasted goose. Mārtiņi Mārtiņi () or Mārtiņdiena is an ancient Latvian winter welcoming holiday, when the time of pieguļa and shepherding came to an end. According to a solar calendar, Mārtiņdiena marks the midpoint between the autumnal equinox (Miķeļi) and winter solstice (Ziemassvētki), and is celebrated in the middle of November."
"1969. In 1969 the day was officially transferred to September 29 for celebration in conjunction with the feast of St. Michael and St. Raphael. The Church of England has also adopted the September 29 date, known as Michaelmas. The Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite celebrate his feast day on November 8 (for those churches that follow the traditional Julian Calendar, November 8 currently falls on November 21 of the modern Gregorian Calendar, a difference of 13 days). Eastern Orthodox commemorate him, not only on his November feast, but also on two other"
"name in Irish ""Díseart Mhartain"" or 'Retreat of Martin'. In Sicily, November is the winemaking season. On St. Martin's Day Sicilians eat anise biscuits washed down with Moscato, Malvasia or Passito. More precisely, the hard biscuits are dipped into the Moscato. ""l'Estate di San Martino"" (Saint Martin's Summer) is the traditional Sicilian reference to a period of unseasonably warm weather in early to mid November. Saint Martin's Day is celebrated in a special way in a village near Messina and at a monastery dedicated to him overlooking Palermo beyond Monreale. Mārtiņi (Martin's) is traditionally celebrated by Latvians on November 10,"
"term would start on 29 September, and thus continues to be called the ""Michaelmas term"", especially at more traditional universities. Prior to the Christianization of Ireland in the 5th century AD, the Celtic quarter days were observed: These are now called cross-quarter days since they fall about halfway into each of the English quarters. The ""Old Scottish term days"" corresponded approximately to the old Celtic quarter days: These were also the dates of the Quarter Days observed in northern England until the 18th century. The dates for removals and for the employment of servants of Whitsunday and Martinmas were changed"
"called ""Advent"" by the Church. The goose became a symbol of St. Martin of Tours because of a legend that when trying to avoid being ordained bishop he had hidden in a goose pen, where he was betrayed by the cackling of the geese. St. Martin's feast day falls in November, when geese are ready for killing. St. Martin’s Day was an important medieval autumn feast, and the custom of eating goose spread to Sweden from France. It was primarily observed by the craftsmen and noblemen of the towns. In the peasant community, not everyone could afford to eat goose,"