If this were mediaeval Britain, we'd all still be on holiday. Work didn't start again until Distaff Day - for the ladies - which was the first Sunday after Epiphany or Plough Monday - the first Monday after Epiphany for the men. Not that there was a lot of work done on Plough Monday; the plough and beasts were dressed in green or straw garlands, be-ribboned labourers and dancers followed and everyone paraded through the village into the church where the whole lot was blessed by the priest. Then they danced and paraded to the first field where it was blessed again, along with the ploughmen, and prayers offered for a good harvest to come. Many of these processions ended with a sword dance, where winter was ritually slain. There may have been beer involved, there certainly wasn't much work because no sooner had they cut the first furrow than they all took to celebrating again.....


Many of these traditions died out but can still be traced in the Plough Stotting and Straw Bear festivals that happen around the country and the traditional sword dances that continue.

LTS