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! It evolved from an ancient tradition or set of ancient traditions from afar that became a very important ritual for agricultural workers in the east of England for several centuries. 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. Like many traditions, Plough Monday was assembled, probably in the 14th century, from fragments of ritual traditions from the Celts, Norse, Saxon and Picts with an intent of community gathering and appreciation for the land and the bounties it brings us.
Like all similar traditions folks found ways to extort money from people to improve their own means. This became ugly and the tradition faded.
Today there is a revival in a new Plough Monday tradition that is starting to extend wider than Europe. It is another potential tradition that returns us to appreciate the land, the farmed land, and how we depend on it to be blessed, nourished and healthy through the year.
Brighid's day in February.
Peace and Happy New Year!,
Firehawk
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! It evolved from an ancient tradition or set of ancient traditions from afar that became a very important ritual for agricultural workers in the east of England for several centuries. 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. Like many traditions, Plough Monday was assembled, probably in the 14th century, from fragments of ritual traditions from the Celts, Norse, Saxon and Picts with an intent of community gathering and appreciation for the land and the bounties it brings us.
Like all similar traditions folks found ways to extort money from people to improve their own means. This became ugly and the tradition faded.
Today there is a revival in a new Plough Monday tradition that is starting to extend wider than Europe. It is another potential tradition that returns us to appreciate the land, the farmed land, and how we depend on it to be blessed, nourished and healthy through the year.
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 2012, 12th night occured on Jan 3rd. Plough Monday is then January 9th, using the Winter Solstice (Dec 22nd) as a reference point for counting the 12 days of Yuletide.
The timing of Plough Monday also seems to give us a bridge of appreciation between
the gifts imagery of the kings of Epiphany and the new life birth rituals of Imbolc andBrighid's day in February.
Peace and Happy New Year!,
Firehawk
Labels: Plough Monday, twelfth night pagan holiday 12 days of christmas yule yuletide three kings day epiphany boxing day firehawk thoughts firehawk's firehawk46064
posted by Anonymous | Sunday, January 08, 2012
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