June 3: St. Morand's Day, patron saint of vintners, wine growers, wine makers.

June 4: Today is Hug Your Cat Day. Somewhere, a cat is waiting for a hug. Don't disappoint her. (A bouquet of catnip might be nice, too.)

June 5: National Gingerbread Day. (Why this doesn't take place in December is a great mystery.)

June 7: On this date in ancient Rome, the annual festival in honor of the goddess Vesta began.

The Buddhists explain things differently. The monk Dharuma practiced meditation all day long. One drowsy afternoon, he found his eyelids drooping. So that this would not happen again, he sliced them off and threw them away. A tea plant sprang up where they fell, and after a little trial and error, Dharuma discovered the secret of brewing its leaves into a drink that would keep him awake—although one has to suppose that he learned to sleep with his eyes open.

Tea became known in Europe in the 1600s, as British merchant ships made their way to the Orient and back again The sprightly stimulant became immediately popular and a brisk trade developed. Tea helped to precipitate at least one war (the American Revolution began with the Boston Tea Party), served several governments as currency, and helped to build the British Empire. Americans have done their fair share, too. They invented iced tea (first served at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904) and the tea bag (first used in 1908 in New York City by Thomas Sullivan).

Tea is more than just a delicious stimulant, however. In the last few years, scientists have compiled a convincing dossier on the virtues of tea. Tea can help to protect the arteries against cholesterol clogs; inhibit the growth of cancers of the colon, stomach, and breast; reduce inflammation; and neutralize many viruses. You can drink black tea or green tea, hot tea or iced tea, with or without caffeine. But do drink brewed tea; scientists say that bottled tea and instant tea don't have as many antioxidants. Herbal teas have different health benefits; you'll want to check them out, as well.

Kipling is right, of course. No tea for a week would turn our world upside down!

Read more about the mysteries of tea:

• The New Tea Book: A Guide to Black, Green, Herbal, and Chai Tea, by Sara Perry
• Healthy Teas: Green-Black-Herbal-Fruit, by Tami Safi

Celebrate St. Morand's Day by creating an herb-infused wine. Check out the recipe for Chardonnay with rosemary, basil, and garlic, in the January 22 entry in China Bayles' Book of Days. Start now, and you'll be using it next week to marinate chicken or fish, make a wine sauce, or flavor rice or beans.

Gingerbread is not just for Christmas! For a full platter of gingerbread recipes to celebrate National Gingerbread Day, check out this page. And if you run out of ideas and are desperate for more, the eHow Holiday & Celebrations editors will give you full directions, starting with gingerbread syrup for your pancakes and ending with a gingerbread martini. Bottoms up!

Plant a chaste tree in your garden in honor of the goddess of home and hearth. For more about growing this lovely plant (with varietal information), check out this Floridata web page. And to learn about Vesta/Hestia and the virgins who guarded her temple, go here.

Celebrate National Iced Tea Month by brewing up some of the herbs so abundant in our gardens. The usual suspects: mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemon grass—each one a wonderful winner. For more ideas and some cooling summer recipes, check out this page.

Register your book club with Susan's Book Club Friends, and become eligible to participate in contests, giveaways, and phone chats with China's creator. Libraries, this is for you, too!

Check out the information about Susan's 2009 book tour. We're starting to plan her April book travels. Midwesterners, your herb/garden group, library, or book club could be included in her schedule!

For more about herbs and the passing seasons, read China Bayles' Book of Days.

To find out what's going on in Susan Albert's life in the Texas Hill Country, read Susan's blog.