Owing to the changes of custom in modern times these wooden perpetual almanacs have become quite superseded by the printed annuals.

The inscriptions read proceeding from the right hand side of the notches, are marks or symbols of the festivals expressed in a kind of hieroglyphic manner, pointing out the characteristics of the Saints, against whose festivals they are placed, others the manner of their Martyrdom; others some remarkable fact in their lives; or to the work or sport of the time when the feasts were kept.

Thus on January 13 the Feast of St. Hiliary is denoted by a Cross or Crozier, the badge of a Bishop.

Explanation of the Clog Almanac.

The edges of the staff are notched chiefly with simple angular indentations

but occasionally with other marks to denote the date of certain special Festivals.

Jan. 1.—The Feast of the Circumcision. Sometimes a circle.
Jan. 2, 3, 4, 5.—Ordinary days.
Jan. 6.—The Feast of the Epiphany. Twelfth day. In some examples the symbol is a star .
Jan. 7.—Ordinary day.
Jan. 8–12.—The first day of the second week is shown by a larger notch.
Jan. 13.—Feast of St. Hilary. Bishop of Poictiers, with double cross.
Jan. 14.—Ordinary day.
Jan. 15, 16.—First day of third week.
Jan. 17.—Feast of St. Anthony. Patron Saint of Feeders of Swine. This is the Rune for M.
Jan. 18.—F. of St. Prisca, A.D. 278. Not noticed.
Jan. 20.—F. of S. Fabian. Not noticed. F. of S. Sebastian. Not noticed.
Jan. 21.—F. of S. Agnes.
Jan. 22.—F. of S. Vincent. Not noticed.
Jan. 25.—Conversion of St. Paul. Symbol of decapitation.
No other Saints days are noticed in Jan.
Feb. 2.—Candlemas. Purification of Virgin Mary.
Feb. 3.—St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. The Patron Saint of Woolcombers. Bp. Sebasti. Armenia. A.D. 316.
Feb. 4.—St. Gilbert. Not noticed.
Feb. 5.—St. Agatha. Palermo. Patroness of Chaste Virgins.
Feb. 6.—St. Dorothea. Not noticed.
Feb. 9.—St. Apolmia. A.D. 249. Alexandria.
Feb. 14.—St. Valentine (historian). M. A.D. 271. Plot gives
Feb. 16.—St. Gregory. Pope X. A.D. 1276.
Feb. 20, 22, 23.—St. Mildred, St. Millburgh, sisters.
Feb. 24.—St. Matthias, Apostle.
Mar. 1.—St. David, Bishop. Symbol a harp. Patron Saint of Wales, A.D. 544.
Mar. 2.—St. Chad. A.D. 672.
Mar. 12.—St. Gregory the Great, A.D. 604.
Mar. 17.—S. Patrick, Patron of Ireland.
Mar. 20.—S. Cuthbert. Not noticed.
Mar. 21.—S. Benedict. Not noticed, A.D. 543.
Mar. 25.—Feast of Annunciation. Blessed Virgin Mary. Usual symbol heart.

These complete one edge of the staff.