- Wash Day
I still remember the old nursery song “This is the day we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes. This is the day we wash our clothes, so early Monday morning.” The words run through my head every once in awhile, even though modern conveniences allow us to whip through our daily chores any day of the week.
In that song Tuesday, of course, was ironing day; Wednesday was the day to scrub the floor; Thursday, to mend the clothes; Friday, we swept the floor; Saturday we baked our bread; and Sunday was the day to go to church. Of all those ‘words to live by,’ only those for Sunday seem to fit current times.
I’ve seen variations on the chores. In one version, baking was done on Wednesday, brewing on Thursday, churning on Friday, mending on Saturday, and Sunday was go-to-meeting day. Apparently that was the English version dating back to the 1600s or before. When the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock on Monday, December 11, 1620, the first thing the women did was the wash. So the tradition was carried on here in America.
Reminds me, I have to go do the wash:-)
I hadn’t thought of that rhyme in years……I’m not quite old enough for the washboard and tub, but do remember my Mom rolling the big old round washing machine with the wringer up to the kitchen sink to wash clothes.
When my grandmother was 78 she replaced her ringer washing machine – with a NEW ONE!!! My mother just about had a fit!
I’ve came across several galvanized tubs, in years past, while garage saleing and now use them as planters. This summer I’ve come across several washboards. My latest find was a child’s size washboard! This song came into my mind and then I thought of my grand daughter and thought how sweet it would be to fix this up for her! Put her name on it and perhaps have the lyrics nearby on the wall. Incidently, I do have a small wash tub for her too.