Plough Monday

Plough Monday


When and What is Plough Monday?


The first Monday after Twelfth Night is Plough Monday. It's time to get back to work and bring the holidays to a close! In ancient times,Plough Monday was a day when English ploughmen traditionally blackened their faces and wore white shirts and villagers in many agricultural areas dragged a decorated plough thru town; and they would knock on doors and ask for money, food and drink. They were accompanied by someone acting the Fool... named the "Lord of Misrule". The fool would often be dressed in skins and a tail, and carry a pig's bladder on the end of a stick. Agricultural laborers were accustomed to draw about a plough and solicit money with guisings, and dancing with swords, preparatory to beginning to plough after the Yule holidays. In a very few places they still drag the plough, but without the sword dance, or any mumming.


Farmers return to work on Plough Monday after the 12 days of Yuletide, which was brought to a close on the evening of merriment on "Twelfth Night".

For 2011, 12th night occured on January 2nd. Plough Monday is January 3rd, using the Winter Solstice (Dec 21st) as a reference point for counting the 12 days of Yuletide.

Peace and Happy New Year!,

Firehawk


FireHawk