SC - New Year's Foods

[Stefan li Rous]

Morwyn of Wye asked:
> Does anyone know how (and what time of year) New Year's was celebrated
> foodwise in period? I was getting together our "traditional" collection of
> foods eaten for luck on New Year's Day, and it seemed likely that something
> similar would have been going on in medieval kitchens.
> 
> I also recall that the New Year used to be considered to start in May. When
> did we switch to January? Was January 1 a special day, or was it part of the
> general Christmas season? Inquiring minds want to know...

The change came at different times in different areas. I believe, in England
at least, that the original date was April 1. hence the development of April
Fools day for those who refused to acknowledge the new way of doing things.

You might want to check these files in the TIME section of my Florilegium:
calenders-msg     (68K) 12/14/99    Medieval calenders and saint's days.
med-calend-art    (23K)  5/ 5/95    Article on figuring out feast days.

And I think there is more about New Years or April Fool's day in this file
in the CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS section:
holidays-msg      (35K)  8/ 4/99    Halloween, Samhain, other Medieval holidays.

- -- 
Lord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mark S. Harris             Austin, Texas           stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****
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