JULY 19, 2011
BRUCE A. BRENNAN BLOG FROM THE WORLD AND MY MIND
The news as I see it and the views as I want them.
July 19 is … Flitch Day
Casey Anthony was released from jail around 12:30 a. m. Sunday July 17. 2011. She reportedly had just over $500.00 on her, the balance in her jail commissary account, most of it coming from donations made by people she does not know.
It was reported she took a private jet to her aunt’s home in Texas. A later report had her in Ohio but neither have been confirmed at the time this is being written. Perhaps her lawyer was not thinking this through too thoroughly. Texas has a tendency of making criminals pay for their crimes. I am sure some State’s Attorney, looking to make a name for himself, is reviewing ways to charge Ms. Anthony in Texas for something. If she tries to cash in on her infamy, I predict she will be arrested if still in Texas.
Where did the private jet come from? Her lawyer has less than six years of legal practice under his belt. He lost his license in Florida once; he has filed bankruptcy and there are domestic abuse issues in his past. He got some money from his client out of the $200,000.00 ABC News paid her but how much has never been disclosed. The State of Florida paid his fees to defend the accused. If Florida is like Illinois, they do not pay the going rate for attorneys. An accused is guaranteed the right to counsel, not counsel of his choice and not the best counsel. I do not think the attorney sprung for the jet.
Check out the video at this address. It is pretty neat. Did I just say neat?
http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/johnwilliams/wgnam-john-williams-dog-bites-shark,0,3025453.htmlstory
What is a Flitch?
A flitch is measurement of bacon, equaling half a pig. (Flitch = side)
In the United States: A side of unsliced bacon was once known as a flitch- it is now known as a slab. An individual slice of bacon is a slice or strip.
What is this Holiday for?
An old English custom from long ago eventually turned into the holiday called Flitch Day, which is celebrated on July 19th. Every year on this day, since about 1104, any married couple who could prove they had been faithful and loving to one another for one year was awarded half a pig, known as a flitch of bacon. However, very few couples would actually "bring home the bacon!" There are still flitch trials today, but they are only held once every four years.
There are historical references to this day as far back as 1104, and it was a regular civic event in Dunmow by the late 1800's. Eventually, those who settled in America, brought the tradition with them.
Origin of this Holiday?
My research did not find the creator, but we know that it does exist because of actual events and customs in history. This holiday is referred to as a "National" day. However, I did not find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day.
Even though we didn't, this is still a holiday that is publicized to celebrate. So have fun with it and celebrate it!
Flitch Trials
Great Dunmow is a town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. Originally the site of a Roman settlement on Stane Street, the town thrived during the Middle Ages. Many buildings survive from this period, including a sixteenth century town hall.
Four-yearly ritual of the Flitch Trials
The town is famous for its four-yearly ritual of the Flitch Trials, in which couples must convince a jury of six local bachelors and six local maidens that they have never wished themselves un-wed for a year and a day. If successful the couple is paraded through the High Street and receive a flitch of bacon. The last flitch trials were held in the town in the summer of 2008, with the next scheduled for 2012. The custom is ancient, and is mentioned in the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
Custom of Giving a Flitch of Bacon
A custom of giving a flitch of bacon to any married couple who would swear that neither of them, in a year and a day, either sleeping or waking, repented of their marriage.
The actual words of the ancient rite performed before a ‘judge’ in a mock court and a ‘jury’ of maidens and bachelors, require that in “twelvemonth and a day” both spouses have “not wish’t themselves unmarried again”.
The full pledge went:
You shall swear by custom of confession,
If ever you made nuptial trangresssion,
Be you either married man or wife,
If you have brawls or contentious strife
Or otherwise, at bed or at board,
Offended each other in deed or word:
Or, since the parish-clerk said Amen,
You wish’t yourselves unmarried agen,
Or in a twelvemonth and a day,
Repented not in thought any way,
But continued true in thought and desire
As when you join'd hands in the quire.
If to these conditions, without all feare,
Of your own accord you will freely swear,
A whole gammon of bacon you shall receive,
And bear it hence with love and good leave;
For this is our custom at Dunmow well knowne,
Though the pleasure be ours, the bacon’s your own.
The parties were to make their oath before the Prior and Convent and the whole town, humbly kneeling in the churchyard upon two hard, pointed stones. The ancient oath is still sworn today:
We do swear by custom of confession
That we ne’er made nuptial transgression,
Not since we were married man and wife,
By household brawles or contentious strife,
Or otherwise in bed or a boarde,
Offended each other in deed or in word,
Or in a twelve months and a day
Repented not in thought in any way.
Or since the church clerke said Amen
Wish’t yourselves unmarried agen,
But continue true and in desire,
As when you joyn'd hands in Holy Quire.
When this oath was taken by each couple, it was the duty of the officer who administered it to reply:
"Since to these conditions, without any fear,
Of your own accord you do freely swear,
A whole flitch of bacon you shall receive,
And bear it hence with love and good leave;
For this is our custom at Dunmow well known
Though the pleasure be ours, the bacon's your own."
This is the origin of "bringing home the bacon".
A holiday for bacon; not big on the Jewish calendar but it seems like a fine tradition to me. The pig can always use a little more respect.
Just a couple of thoughts I had and you should too.
BRUCE A. BRENNAN
DEKALB, IL 60115
COPYRIGHT 2011
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