July Notebook - The Coastal Issue

Water gods, nautical interiors and a surprising garden tip.

At this time of year my thoughts and dreams are full of rivers and seas. I'm not a natural summer person, and the hot dry months leave me wilting and flustered, longing for the cool, rainy seasons of spring and autumn which are much more my natural habitat. But that’s not to say I don’t like summer, I love it and I can appreciate everything that's good and happy about this month. I love the feeling of freedom, and the planning of summer holidays and the celebratory outdoorsy-ness of summer, but I really, really don't love the heat. Which means by July I'm dreaming of rainstorms, cool rivers and bracing seas.

Photo by laura adai on Unsplash

And I’m definitely not alone in this. When I worked in lifestyle magazines, every July issue would be The Coastal Issue, dedicated to all things watery and beach-based. Seafood recipes, striped tableware, coastal homes and beach-inspired decor palettes were the order of the day. And it was always a best seller.

Pondering a bit more on our preoccupation with the sea at this time of year, I looked into ancient festivals and unearthed a rather niche, but very timely festival called Neptunalia, held by the Ancient Romans during July that celebrates all things cool and watery.

Photo by Leran Admoni on Unsplash

The reason for casting all the way back to the Ancient Romans in search of festival ideas is that July is a strangely quiet time in our more recent pagan calendar, with no records of any Celtic or Anglo Saxon folk festivals or nature-based celebrations taking place in this month.

This could be for two reasons. It could be because this is a quiet time in the year, a balancing point between the efforts of spring and the bounty of harvest, when the sun is at its peak and minds drift to holidays and rest. Or it could be the exact opposite which is much more likely. That our agricultural ancestors were so busy working out in the fields during July, making hay while the sun shone, that they had little free time for celebrating and merry making.

But if we delve back into the Ancient Roman calendar they obviously had a bit more spare time to enjoy themselves, as there are records of a festival called Neptunalia, a two-day festival in honour of Neptune the god of the seas which, in this hot languid month, seems like a good festival to reignite when water levels are low and temperatures are high.

What is Neptunalia?

While Neptune is one of the most well known Roman gods, not much is known about this festival (Wikipedia call it ‘obscure’). Surviving records of Neptunalia simply state that it was a two day festival celebrated at the end of July, possibly around the 23rd, to honour Neptune, the god of waters. As it was held at the peak of the hot summer weather, it could well have been a ritual festival to ask Neptune to bless the land with water, to avoid drought and ensure the crops would survive.

Records show that people used to build huts of branches and foliage during the festival, presumably to protect them from the scorching summer heat, under which they could feast and celebrate and summon the gods of the waters. And right now, that's exactly what I feel like doing. 

So here's my modern take on a Neptunalia festival at home

Photo by orva studio on Unsplash

1. Build a cool garden shelter

I love the idea of creating a leafy shelter as refuge from the summer sun and building a hut from branches and foliage. Depending on skill level this could range from a quick teepee built out of bean sticks to a living willow den. (But let’s be honest, we’re all at the ‘quick teepee’ level of skill here right? Probably not many willow weavers amongst us?) Here’s a short video showing how to build one.

2. Harvest rainwater like the ancients

With climate change driving up the temperatures at a really scary rate, summers certainly don't look like they are going to get any cooler in the near future, so preserving water sources during periods of drought is becoming increasingly important. I recently read about an old, and really simple, way of harvesting and slow-releasing rainwater into the garden by burying terracotta pots in the ground. The pots can be topped up with tap water or rainwater then they will slowly release it into the soil through the terracotta, targeting the water at the roots of the plants right where it’s needed without any waste. Here’s a little guide.

3. Call on the water gods

This month seems a good time to pay due respect to the water gods, so a visit to a local wild water source is a good idea in July. Now that I’m back home and can’t just wander along to the harbour to see the sea, I'll probably have to settle for dipping a toe in our local stream but that will be delicious too. There are plenty of water gods to call on and say a quick thank you to. Cast a water spell, say a water prayer or just take a wild dip. This month is also a good time to support some of the charities pushing big water companies to clean up our heavily-polluted waterways in the UK. Surfers Against Sewage is a great one.

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

4. Read tales of the sea

This is the time of the year for reading tales of the sea and books about coastal living. I’ll be leafing through previous July issues of all my favourite magazines, bookmarking my favourite coastal homes and probably spending too much time on rightmove searching for Cornish cottages for sale. Perhaps I’ll rewatch some episodes of Rick Stein’s Cornwall on BBC iPlayer too - nautical tales, quirky characters and of course, coastal recipes. If you wanted to watch Mamma Mia to get your fix of all things nautical instead, I wouldn’t judge you.

5. Decorate a seasonal shelf

If you like to bring in a few seasonal things to make a display indoors each month, then this month it’s all about sea shells and other beach-combing treasures. Whether you want to call this a display shelf, a seasonal collection or a nature altar, it’s nice to have a focal point indoors for reflecting the seasons. My best-ever beach find was a heart-shaped piece of green sea glass so I’ll be putting this next to a few shells brought home from my recent Cornish trip.

6. Put water out for wildlife

I'll be topping up the birdbath increasingly frequently this month and leaving a water dish out for any thirsty nocturnal animals that might wander into the garden overnight. Mine only seems to be used by a couple of very large and territorial wood pigeons most of the time, but still, those two will be well-watered at least.

7. Listen to a sea shanty

When I was in Cornwall last week, we were taking an evening walk along the harbour when a group of four people sitting on the harbour wall suddenly burst into song as we walked past. Once I’d got over the shock of it, and looked around to make sure it wasn’t a prank, we stood in front of them and listened as they sang sea shanties for a good half an hour as the sun set over the waters behind them. My son was transfixed and enthusiastically clapped at the end of every single line, and there was something timeless about the sound of the ancient songs with the noise of the waves and the seagulls in the background. To summon the spirit of the sea this month now that I’m landlocked again, I might listen to a sea shanty or two. It seems like the only time of the year when it’s acceptable to do so.

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There, don’t you feel cooler already just reading about all those nautical, coastal, watery things?

If you also like the idea of celebrating a modern Neptunalia, share your ideas below and let me know what you’ll be doing this month!

And finally, if you like this post please tap the heart below to leave a like so I’m not just watching the tumbleweed over here…

Have a lovely July,

Vicky xx