Plough Monday
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plough Monday is the traditional start of the English agricultural year. While local practices may vary, Plough Monday is generally the first Monday after Twelfth Day (Epiphany), 6 January.[1][2] References to Plough Monday date back to the late 15th century.[2] The day before Plough Monday is sometimes referred to as Plough Sunday.
The day traditionally saw the resumption of work after the Christmas period. In some areas, particularly in northern England, a plough was hauled from house to house in a procession, collecting money. They were often accompanied by musicians, an old woman or a boy dressed as an old woman, called the "Bessy", and a man in the role of the "fool".[1]
The Plough Monday customs declined in the 19th century but have been revived in the 20th. They are now mainly associated with Molly dancing.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Hone, William (1826). The Every-Day Book. London: Hunt and Clarke, 71.
- ^ a b Plough Monday. Oxford English Dictionary (online edition, subscription required). Retrieved on December 1, 2006.
