Feast Days in the Middle Ages


Medieval celebrations revolved around feast days that often had pagan origins and were based on ancient agricultural celebrations that marked when certain crops should be planted or harvested. These were then adopted by the early Church and adapted to coincide with the celebration of saints’ days. Four of these feast days were designated ‘quarter days’ when servants were hired, rents became due, and leases and contracts begun.


Over the next 12 months, in the church magazine, we will give you details of each month’s ancient feast days and how they would have been celebrated by our forebears in Otford in medieval times.


Twelfth Night - January 5th


Christmas celebrations ran for 12 days culminating on the evening of the eve of the Epiphany.


A feast was held in the Lord’s hall when all tenants were expected to bring presents (hens /eggs/ bread /ale). Fires were lit and most activities seemed to focus on groups of 12 - candles, fires, rows of wheat sown, apples etc. The Twelfth Cake was cut for the guests. The person who received the bean which was hidden within it, became King or Queen of the Bean and the head of the celebration. The common theme was that the normal order of things was reversed. This Lord of Misrule tradition dates back to pre-Christian festivals such as the Celtic festival of Samhain. Foods and drinks to celebrate featured apples and apple cider spiced with nutmeg and ginger, known as a wassail.


Epiphany - January 6th


The name comes from a Greek word meaning ‘vision of God’ The Christian celebration is of the manifestation of the baby Jesus to the Magi. The Epiphany was followed by Plough Monday.


All the men of the village would participate in a plough race, to begin cultivation of the town's common plot of land. Each man would try and furrow as many lines as possible, as he would be able to sow those lines during the coming year. Children would play the role of "Fool Plough" and go from house to house asking for pennies. Those who refused would find the ground in front of their door ploughed up.


Rod Shelton


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