16th Century Baking Schedule in Tudor Elizabethan England

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

 

 

Bilyeau, Nancy. “When January 1st Wasn’t the First Day of the Year.” https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/when-january-1st-wasnt-the-first-day-of-the-year-8cfc63d3929a.

Cartwright, Mark. “Holidays in the Elizabethan Era.” https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1581/holidays-in-the-elizabethan-era/.

Dawson, Thomas. The good Huswifes Handmaide for the Kitchin. 1594. http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/book1594huswife.htm.

“Embroidered Book with Translation from the Glasse of the Synneful Soul.” https://tudorblackwork.blogspot.com/2020/04/embroidered-book-with-translation-from.html.

“Food and Your Lifestyle.” Life in Elizabethan England. http://elizabethan.org/compendium/46.html.

How, William. A proper new Booke of Cookery. 1575. https://www.medievalcookery.com/notes/pnboc1575.txt.

Hughes, Olga. “A Tudor Fish Day Menu.” https://nerdalicious.com.au/history/a-tudor-fish-day-menu/.