During Medieval Times, the life of most people was controlled by the changes in the weather or season. All of the different times of the year were celebrated and acknowledged with feasts and festivals that were highly religious. They were a joy to everyone including Kings, Nobles, Merchants and Peasants.
The origin of festivals lies in the story of two kings, one kingdom was hardworking with no days off, while the other celebrated all the time. There are obvious disadvantages to both the hardworking (who became stressed and ill) and the celebratory kingdom (they became lazy and fat). People need a balance of work and fun, because only having one would be a bad idea.
There was a festival or celebration every month of the year (see opposite) but the most important were Christmas and Easter, not only religiously but also for measuring out the seasons; up to Christmas was winter, when the wheat was sown and when Easter came, it meant the arrival of spring crops (such as oats and barley). This was so the farms could understand when they had to grow certain crops during a certain time period. Although they were also helpful, holidays were created for fun.
Christmas which was celebrated during December, was celebrated in twelve days (ending on the fifth of January). Twelve was an important number during Christmas, as it was a ‘time of the number twelve'. People made toasts twelve times, walked under the Kissing Bush twelve times, tables were set for twelve people, and hollies were separated into twelve for decorations. People had to get ready twelve gifts which they exchanged to receive twelve gifts. Twelve different dishes had to be served throughout the twelve days of Christmas. They brought in wood which was used for the fire place, of course throughout the twelve days.
Festivals Calender
{January} Twelfth Night Religious festival and feasts celebrating the visit of the Wise Men, or Magi, following the birth of Jesus. {February} St Valentine's Day. The Medieval festival celebrating love - singing, dancing and pairing games. {March} Easter celebrated by the Mystery plays depicting the crucifixion (Good Friday) and the resurrection (Easter Monday) {April} All Fool's Day. The Jesters, or Lords of Misrule, took charge for the day and caused mayhem with jokes and jests! {May} May Day was a spring festival celebrating May Day when a Queen of the May was chosen and villagers danced around the maypole {June} Midsummer Eve, the Mummers entertained at the 'Festival of Fire' reliving legends such as St George and the Dragon. Bones were often burned leading to the term 'bonfire'. The summer Solstice was June 23rd. {July} St. Swithin's Day falls on 15th July. Legend says that during the bones of St Swithin were moved and after the ceremony it began to rain and continued to do so for forty days. {August} Lammas Day was celebrated on August 2nd. The ' loaf-mass ' day, the festival of the first wheat harvest of the year. Houses were sometimes decorated with garlands and there were candle lit processions. {September} 29th September was when Michaelmas celebrated the life of St Michael and the traditional food on Michaelmas was goose or chicken {October} October 25th celebrating St Crispin's Day. Revels and bonfires and people acted as 'King Crispin'. {November} The Day of the Dead - All Souls Day or All Hallow's Day ( Halloween ) when revels were held and bonfires were lit. {December} Christmas celebrations.