St. Barnabas' Day, 11 June, was reckoned the longest day of the year under the Old Style calendar. Cf. [1595 Spenser Epithalamion l. 266] This day the sunne is in his chiefest hight, With Barnaby the bright.
Barnaby bright, the longest day and shortest night.
[1659 J. Howell Proverbs (English) 20]
In some parts of the country the children call the lady-bird Barnaby Bright, and address it thus:—‘Barnaby Bright, Barnaby Bright, The longest day and the shortest night.’
[1858 Notes & Queries 2nd Ser. VI. 522]
Barnaby bright All day and no night.
[1906 E. Holden Country Diary of Edwardian Lady (1977) 72]
Barnaby bright, Barnaby bright, The longest day and the shortest night, is a reminder that, before the change in the calendar in 1752, 11 June was the longest day of the year.
[1978 R. Whitlock Calendar of Country Customs vii.]
Related to: calendar lore
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
