[Ansteorra] A Medieval Holiday

[Aceia]

I know, its the middle of summer, but it is kind of nice to think about
winter holidays in the middle of this heat!

Recently on a non-SCA fiber group that I belong to, there has been some
interesting discussion about "Roc Day" which is a medieval holiday that
coincides with 12th night.
What follows is the compiled information about Roc Day and 12th night -
Enjoy!



"Rocken" is the German word for distaff and a distaff was sometimes called a
"rock" in English--speaking countries. January 7 is St. Distaff's day and is
celebrated by spinners in Britain and now, in the US.
 I looked up "St. Distaff's Day" and found this bit of information including
a poem about it.  I thought it was really good and that you might like it
too....OK you have to read down a little way to get to it, but I
included the first part of the article because of the Wassail Bowl
info.  Here it is...Enjoy...

January:

                Janiveer — freeze the pot upon the fier.

                As the day lengthens,
                The cold strengthens.

        January 1: New Year's Day. On this day the head of the
household would gather family and servants about a bowl of spiced ale
(called lambs wool) to toast in the New Year. The toast was "Wass Hael" (To
your health), and the bowl was known as the Wassail Bowl.

        January 6: Twelfth Day (the 12th day after Christmas). Marked
with fire dances in fields, a Twelfth Day Cake (baked with a pea or bean
inside and washed down with honey-spiced ale from the Wassail Cup or bowl).
People also toasted fruit trees on Twelfth Day - an old fertility ritual -
singing:

                Here's to thee; old apple tree
                Whence thou mayst bud, whence thous mayst blow!
                And whence thou mayst bear apples enow!
                Hats full! Caps full!
                Three score bushes full
                And my pockets full, too!
                Huzza! Huzza! Huzza!

        Twelfth Day often coincided with St Distaff's Day, which was
the traditional day on which women returned to their spinning.

                 Partly work and partly play
                 You must on St Distaff's Day:
                 From the plough soon free your team;
                 Then come home and fother them:
                 If the maids a-spinning go,
                 Burn the flax and fire the tow.

                 Bring in pails of water then,
                 Let the maids bewash the men.
                 Give St Distaff all the right:
                 Then bid Christmas sport goodnight,
                 And next morrow every one
                 To his own vocation.


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