Wednesday, 25 March 2020

Lady Day

You may recall this post from a previous year.... but I thought you'd like the reminder.
Today - March 25 - is Lady Day. 
It's one of the four Quarter Days of the old English Calendar. 

 The Quarter Days are March 25 - Lady Day, also the Feast of the Annunciation in the Christian calendar; June 24 - Midsummer Day, also the Feast of St John the Baptist; September 29 - Michaelmas Day, also the Feast of St Michael and All Angels; December 25 - Christmas Day.

Quarter days were the four dates in each year when servants were hired, school terms started, and rents were due. Debts and unresolved lawsuits were not allowed to linger on, and accounts had to be settled. Leasehold payments and land rents are often still due on the old English Quarter Days. 

Just to confuse the issue, there are also four Cross-Quarter Days falling between the Quarter Days. These are February 2 - Candlemas;  May 1 - May Day;  August 1 - Lammas;  November 1 - All Hallows Day.

Lady Day was the traditional day when long-term contracts between landowners and tenant farmers would begin and end. Farming families who were changing farms would often travel to their new farm on Lady Day. It roughly coincides with the Spring Equinox, signifying a new beginning.

So have a Happy Lady Day!!
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10 comments:

  1. R's Rue25 March 2020 at 15:01

    Thanks.

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  2. Marie Smith25 March 2020 at 19:23

    I am familiar with many of these from my religious upbringing.

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    Replies
    1. Shammickite26 March 2020 at 08:04

      Yes, these Quarter Days are closely connected with the Church calendar.

      Delete
  3. Anvilcloud26 March 2020 at 06:53

    It was Sue's birthday. I will have to tell My Lady about Lady Day.

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    Replies
    1. Shammickite26 March 2020 at 08:05

      So mow you will never forget that Sue was born on a very special day.

      Delete
  4. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"26 March 2020 at 09:38

    I must have read all about that somewhere, but I'd forgotten the details. I certainly knew about Lammas as there's a park in Cambridge known as Lammas Land and I remember reading that it was the date when the rent for the grazing land was payable. Thanks for reminding me about these once important dates.

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  5. Bill26 March 2020 at 12:57

    Thanks for the info, I had never heard of these days before.

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  6. LL Cool Joe27 March 2020 at 09:12

    Interesting, never knew this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. William Kendall20 April 2020 at 05:27

    A new one to me.

    ReplyDelete

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