Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ll be using manicules (those pointing finger symbols) to direct your attention to something I’m pondering that delights or interests me. Each entry is somehow related to an unusual, obscure, or simply charming to me word.
E is for…
enchiridion – (en-ˌkī-ˈri-dē-ən) a book to be carried in the hand; a manual; a handbook. Late Latin, from Greek, first known English usage 15th century.
I love books. I love to read them. I love to make them. I love to write them. I always have multiple journals going. Even though I periodically try keeping just one, that never works for me for long. I think we all have things where we know more is better.
I haven’t really bound any kind of manual, but I have done plenty of small books, and I’ll share some peeks.
The above is one of my favorites. For years I used to make checkbook covers. And then at some point it occurred to me that instead of just putting in the pack of checks and a register, I could add pages in those sections instead. Voile – a book is born.
A few more small books I’ve made:
I have a number of bookbinding projects on my work table at the moment, and as I was looking at them, I remembered that St. Bartholomew is considered the patron saint of bookbinders. When I looked up his feast day, I found it was August 24, and I pledged to have every one of the books waiting for my attention, and a bunch of others, bound by then. That’s because St. Bartholomew Day (aka Bartlemas) has traditionally been celebrated as wayzgoose (another fabulous word!) – an annual dinner/outing/entertainment hosted by a master printer for all his/her staff. It originally marked the traditional end of summer and the start of the season of working by candlelight. In the days before glass windows, waxed paper was used to keep out the elements, and Bartlemas was the signal for papermakers to make waxed paper so the windows could be re-papered in preparation for winter. Once that was done, the papermakers cleaned their vats, and filled them anew with cotton rag pulp to begin papermaking for all the new printing projects to come.
There’s another reference to St. Bartholomew that appears in the novel The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling. I haven’t gotten around to reading the book yet, but this quote is precisely the reason it made it to my must-read pile:
“My father used to tell me that before we are born, St. Bartholomew, patron saint of bookbinders, presents our soul with a choice of two books…One is bound in the softest golden calf and majestically gold-tooled; the other is bound in plain, undyed goatskin straight from the tan-pits. The “nascent soul” who chooses the opulent volume, she continues, “will open it to find that the pages of the book are already inscribed with a story of an inescapable fate.” The latter’s pages “start off blank, and await inscription by the leading of a life of free will according to personal inspiration and divine grace.”
I’ve done quite a bit of meandering in this post, but I have one more thing to share. In a concept related to enchirdion, I discovered that “pocketbook” first appeared in the early 17th century. It meant simply a book small enough to fit in one’s pocket. But it soon came to mean a leather folder in which notes, bills, and important documents could be carried. It wasn’t until the 1820s that the term began to be used to describe women’s handbags. It amuses me that 200 years later neither pocketbook or handbag are words often heard. Who knows, maybe in some future iteration, I’ll be including those words in an A-to-Z challenge of obsure and obsolete words that delight me.
What about you? Have any manuals you’re particularly fond of? Any small books you love? Bind books or make paper? Want to attend a wayzgoose? Do tell – you know I’d love to hear.
I didn’t know that St. Bartholomew is considered the patron saint of bookbinders nor did I know about the origins of the word ‘pocketbook’ so I’ve learned things here. As for binding a manuscript together, I’ve never done that nor do I sense that I will be. However I’ve put pre-punched paper into three-ring binders so kind of like that… sort of.
LOL – excellent point Ms. Bean. And now you can consider yourself under the auspices of St. Bart.
Great history lesson, thanks
Thanks for stopping by Beth.
Wayzgoose — !!!
What a delightful word! 🙂
My paternal grandmother was the only person I’ve ever known who used the term “pocketbook” to describe her purse. (She also called her couch a “davenport.”
I have never tried book binding of any kind, but I enjoy paper crafts sometimes. Years ago, for example, I embossed all my own wedding invitations. 🙂
I do love a good word! 🙂
I think it’s kind of exciting to have a link to evolving language. Of course, we all do – especially these days as words and expressions can be passed so quickly via social media. But watching words shift through generations we’re connected to is kind of amazing to me.
I used to bind books when I was a child. I may start again. I enjoyed the quote from ‘The Journal of Dora Damage’.
My love for binding started early too. The quote offers a wonderful perspective doesn’t it?
Hari OM
…in the UK and OZ, ladies’ carryalls are only ever referred to as handbags… as long as they contain all the important things like wallet/purse, manicure set, hankies…chocolate… A pocketbook is literally a book that can be carried in a pocket… or handbag… I have noted that Americans tend to call handbags ‘ purses’. To us, these are only for carrying cash. On one blog I read not so very long past, the handbag was referred to as a pocketbook and that was the first and only time till now that I have seen it used in reference to a lady’s personal bag. Of course, the term handbag is itself a little obsolete as the majority of women can’t be bothered having one arm tied up and prefer the long-strap shoulder bag these days!
Ah, it’s a fine thing, the English language!!! YAM xx
E=Eternalnot
All very interesting Yamini – thanks for sharing the terminology from your part of the world. What you call purses we’re likely to refer to as wallets. But how true your observation – shoulders are definitely the carrier of personal bags not hands.
I love books and bookstores but don’t want to accumulate any more of them in my house unless they’re ones I will re-read many times. I’m a devoted user of my public library.
Libraries are definitely one of my favorite places too.
I love making mini albums and junk journals, does that count?
You get to count every bit of your boundless creativity Janet!
Most important Task FIRST: Please sign me up for the next–wayzgoose–just the mention of the word has put a spin in my step–who needs wine!! LOVe this word. Will come dressed in feathers shed by geese—seems just right for such a gathering:)
That there is a patron Saint for bookbinders makes me smile and hopeful.
And your books (bound) and yet to be bound look delicious.
So much to go Ah! over in this post.
Thank you Deborah.
LOL – you have chosen the perfect costume Arti. As a feathery fashionista you’ll be setting new standards for all future wayzgoose gatherings. Bonus points: because you’ll be carrying multiple goose quills, you’ll be prepared to autograph one of your own books without a second’s hesitation. How perfect is that? 🙂
I’m impressed by your skills!
My superpower is to purchase pretty notebooks I’ll hoard and never use 😉
LOL – what a great superpower! And don’t think of it as hoarding, think of all those journals helping beautify your environment. Job well done.
If It’s creative I’ve tried to do it. Learned to make paper and did some cool book binding projects.
i love the plain bound book image – it calls
Cheers
Eavesdropping
There are endless ways to explore and express our creativity. How does it get any better than that?
Beautiful book bindings!
Thank you!
I still use pocket books/spiral books or any books with amusing covers just because they r cute…am back to using lot of note books due to daughter’s school. I write anything with pen or pencil in a note book only then I feel it’s authentic..your book bindings r pretty.
Good luck with the projects!
http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/ (a to z)
There are so many journal options – it’s fun to be able to choose both what delights you and what works. It’s always interesting to me what relationship we each have with our journaling. I kind of think it’s like fingerprints – we’re all unique. I really love that.
I have gathered so many things to create some journals with… often call junk journals. I have only made a few small ones for the granddaughters but have plans to create some specific ones for me to journal in.
Junk journals can be such fun. Collecting stuff, making them, and then using them – each aspect is delightful.
Wow. So much to learn here Deborah. Your book bindings look amazing. Thank you for enchiridion. I love journals too but I really need to sort mine out. They are like half-written, barely used, etc., etc. You just prompted me on that.
Thanks Sonia, and I appreciate you stopping by. Good luck with sorting your journals. I’m always fascinated by other’s journal-keeping practices – both what they keep in them and how they keep them.
All kinds of new stuff in this post, and enchiridion is a great word, too. I’ve bound a few little notebooks, but only in the most amateur possible way! Any blank book, though… true love.
E is for Extreme