Monday, January 7, 2013

Distaff Day



It seems that today is traditionally the first day back to work after the Christmas season, and women would begin to prepare fiber for the daily grind of spinning, while the men played pranks, and would apparently try to set the flax on fire?!?!  Whut.


Robert Herrick, “St. Distaff’s Day; or, the Morrow After Twelfth Day” (17th Century):

Partly worke and partly play
Ye must on St. Distaffs Day:
From the Plough soon free your team;
Then come home and fother them:
If the Maides a-spinning goe,
Burne the flax, and fire the tow:
Scorch their plackets, but beware
That ye singe no maidenhair.
Bring in pailes of water then,
Let the Maides bewash the men.
Give St. Distaffe all the right,
Then bid Christmas sport good-night,
And next morrow every one
To his own vocation.


All I know, dude shows up with a lighter and goes for my stash, I'm breaking some heads with my good old distaff.  ;)

No comments:

Post a Comment