Meals in 16th century England were determined by what was in season, as well as their religious calendar.
During the Middle Ages, workers only had Sundays and Holy Days (which later became known as ‘holidays’ off
from work).
By the Elizabethan period, enjoying
specialty foods and drinks, rather than what one normally consumed, became
associated with the celebration of the Holy Days.
Secular
traditions began to be associated with certain holidays. For example, it was
customary to give gifts on New Year’s Day (in March).
Elizabethan England's Recognized Holy Days
New Year's Day
(1 Jan) - the Circumcision of Jesus Christ
Twelfth Day (6 Jan) - the Epiphany when the
Magi visited Jesus
Candlemas (2 Feb) - Feast of the
Purification of Mary
Shrovetide/Shrove Tuesday (between 3 Feb
& 9 Mar) - the last day before the fasting of Lent
Ash Wednesday (between 4 Feb & 10 Mar)
- First day of Lent, the 40-day fast that leads up to Easter
Lady Day (25 Mar) - Annunciation of Mary
Easter (between 22 Mar & 25 Apr) - the
Resurrection of Christ and including nine days of celebration
May Day (1 May) - commemorating St. Philip
and Jacob, but also considered the first day of summer
Ascension Day (between 30 Apr & 3 Jun)
- Ascension of Christ and a major summer festival
Whitsunday (between 10 May & 13 Jun) -
Pentecost when Christ visited the apostles
Trinity Sunday (between 17 May & 20
Jun) - Feast day of the Trinity
Midsummer Day (24 Jun) - commemorates John
the Baptist
Michaelmas (29 Sep) - marks the end of the
harvest season and commemorates the Archangel Michael
All Hallows/Hallowtide (1 Nov) - the feast
of All Saints (Hallows)
Accession Day (17 Nov) - commemorates
Elizabeth I of England's accession
Saint Andrew's Day (30 Nov) - commemorates
St. Andrew
Christmas (25 Dec) - the birth of Jesus
Christ
A Small Bit of Trivia
In the 16th century, the
beginning of the calendar year, when the year number changed (for example from
1548 to 1549), began on March 25th on the
Annunciation of Mary holy day.
March 25th continued to
be New Year’s Day in England until 1752, when the Parliament of England passed
an act to make January 1st the beginning
of the calendar year (like most of Western Europe had already done previously).
In the beginning of The good Huswifes Handmaide for the Kitchin from 1594,
the book provides meat suggestions based on Holy Days:
Interpretation:
Flesh days versus Fish Days:
Fish days were
observed throughout the year on Fridays and Saturdays, and sometimes on
Wednesdays.
Flesh days were for any day not already observed as a fish day.
Works Cited
