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celebrations
christmas
boxingday
easter
midday
martinmas
advent
halloween
michaelmas
pentecost
candlemas
hocktide
plowmonday |
On November 11th, St. Martin of Tours the feast of Martinmas was celebrated.
It was immediately followed by the beginning of Advent, 40 days of reflection
and penance in preparation for the great feast of Christmas.
The celebrations were the same as a Carnival, just before Lent, though on a
smaller scale. There was much feasting, drinking and playing of games, as well
as story telling and sometimes, plays. Cock fights, pig baiting and sport events
such as racing, leaping or wrestling were other favourite activities.
On this day fairs were traditionally held, at which farm workers were hired.
In the Middle Ages it was also the day on which cattle were slaughtered and
salted for winter consumption. As in many countries that were manly rural, this
time of year was spent prepering for the hard months ahead. Farm families were
able to estimate how much they would have to feed themselves and their
livestock. There were always animals that couldn’t earn their keep, these would
be the chickens that didn’t lay eggs, the cows that didn’t give milk.
Martin of Tours, started out as a Roman soldier, he was baptized when he was
grown up and later and became a monk. The most famous legend of his life is that
he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm.
Celebrations
Christmas Boxing Day
Easter May Day
Martinmas Advent
Halloween Michaelmas
Pentecost Candlemas
Hock Tide Plow Monday
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