« on: January 07, 2014, 11:46:59 am »
In times past, January 7th, the first free day after the twelve of Christmas was known as St. Distaff's Day. It had no connection whatsoever with any saint but its place in the folk calendar gives an indicator of the importance of spinning at a time when this was the only means of turning the raw wool, cotton or flax into thread capable of being woven into cloth. The day, which was also know as Rock Day (referring to another name for either the distaff or the spindle) indicated that this was the end of the Christmas festivities and the return to the normality of spinning whenever there was a spare moment. As Anthony Fitzherbert, wrote in his 'Boke of Husbandrie' (1523) 'it stoppeth a gap…it saveth a woman from being idle, and the product was needful'.
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hereHappy St Distaff's Day to one and all, and especially all our spinners!
x-posted in Coffee Lounge
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Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use. Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing
Topic: Happy St Distaff's Day! (Read 1775 times)
