This year, Epiphany fell on a Sunday.
I was delighted to go to church and find the tree lit and the two Nativity scenes still in situ. The vicar announced from the pulpit, ‘The season is not over until Epiphany’, even though the churchwardens wanted to take all the Christmas decorations down on Saturday, January 5. Instead, they will come down on Monday, the 7th.
There are two old traditional European festive days that follow Epiphany.
One is St Distaff’s Day, or Roc Day, which is always on January 7. It has no religious significance, but is centuries old and is still a part of life in Europe where textiles and fibers are spun:
St Distaff’s Day — Distaff Day: January 7
The second is Plough Monday, still celebrated in a few English towns, which is the first Monday after Epiphany. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the local church and parish community were involved. Afterwards, it returned to its secular roots:
The English tradition of Plough Monday
Plough Monday — the Monday after Epiphany
In 2019, the two coincide. Imagine what fun was had centuries ago when people celebrated both traditions on the same day.
4 comments
January 6, 2019 at 11:35 pm
jameshigham
Also Orthodox Christmas tonight and tomorrow morning.
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January 6, 2019 at 11:52 pm
churchmouse
Thanks, James!
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January 6, 2019 at 11:53 pm
jameshigham
If you’ll forgive me, I have also linked to this post at my site tomorrow morning at 11. They can read about it all here.
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January 7, 2019 at 1:21 am
churchmouse
Sure, that’s great, James.
Many thanks — much appreciated.
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