The 'importance' was its role in starting the New Year. All dates had
religious significance in the middle ages as they generally did not
refer to calendar dates as we know them but rather eg 'two days before
the feast of St John the Baptist' Quarter days were significant in
economic and social terms. Easter was significant in religious terms as
it started the Christian New Year but for most civil purposes it was
better to have a fixed day and lady Day fitted the bill nicely.
Regards
John
In message <005301c53a83$23455400$36ffa8c0@GM>, Gerard McSweeney
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Not more importantly. Lisa is right. The reason it was a Quarter Day was the
>Christian significance (see all the other Holidays [Holy Days] except
>Midsummer which was a convenient 'quarter' point.
>G McS.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Chapman" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 1:38 AM
>Subject: Re: Happy New Year?
>
>
>> More importantly 25th March was a quarter day, the others being June 24
>> (Midsummer), Sept 29 (Michaelmas) and Dec 25 (Christmas). In Scotland
>> they are May 15 (Whitsun), Aug 1 (Lammas), Nov 11 (Martinmas) and Feb 2
>> (Candlemas)
>>
>> They certainly go right back to the Middle Ages and were the dates upon
>> which rents were due or tenancies begun and ended. The new year
>> symbolism was Easter when the Easter Vestry was held to elect or appoint
>> village officials. England adopted the nearest quarter day to start the
>> year as it was fixed and not a moveable feast.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> In message <008401c53a35$bee84d20$1ea4fc3e@lisa>, Lisa Spurrier
>> <[log in to unmask]> writes
>> >Because it signifies the conception of Christ, which might be regarded as
>> >the beginning of the Incarnation.
>> >----- Original Message -----
>> >From: "Roger Fern" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 11:12 PM
>> >Subject: Re: Happy New Year?
>> >> 25th March was called "Lady Day" -- meaning (I think) the Feast of
>> >> the Annunciation. Any idea why that should have been thought
>> >> suitable for starting the New Year? And does it go "right back" into
>> >> the Middle Ages? And is it just an English peculiarity? Or was it
>> >> New Year's Day all over Europe?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >--
>> >Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
>> >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> >Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.0 - Release Date: 08/03/2005
>>
>> --
>> John Chapman
>>
--
John Chapman
|