Today is January 2. In Switzerland, it is Berchtoldstag (Berchtold's Day). Berchtold is the male version of Perchta, who is a guardian of animals, sometimes leader of the Wild Hunt, and, according to Jacob Grimm (yes, one of the Grimm Brothers), an observer of spinning during the 12 Days of Christmas. Berchtold is noone, apparently - it should be Perchatastag, but the Swiss are not known for their feminism - women did not gain the right to vote in Federal elections until 1971, and Appenzell Innerrhoden became the last Swiss canton to grant women the vote on local issues. (Lest American's get snooty - Mississippi did not ratify the 19th Amendment [granting women the right to vote] until 1984. Of course, women could vote in Mississippi as of 1920, but the state didn't ratify the amendment until 1984).
That got longer than I expected.
The book of the day:
Glorya Hale, ed - Read-Aloud Poems for Young People
Poems for me to read-aloud to my young people.
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