anglo-norman
Norman Heritage
Dedicated to the Normans: the race of seafarers, warriors, builders, and kings who created the European Middle Ages.
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Illuminated page for the month of January from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (1416)
“January was a month of gift giving and we can see some of the wealthy friends of the Duke de Berry bringing new year's gifts to their lord (who can be seen seated on the right at a banquet table in a striking blue robe decorated with gold fleurs de lys - indicating his support for the French monarchy). He sits before a large fire which warms the group from the January cold. Behind him and to the right are two young men wearing black head gear who may be the Limbourg brothers who painted these scenes under the patronage of the Duke de Berry. On the wall behind the revellers is a large tapestry which shows a scene from the Trojan War (although the soldiers are dressed in 15th century uniforms). It might also be a reference to the war which was currently being fought against King Henry V of England who defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.” (https://oll.libertyfund.org/page/images-of-liberty-and-power-book-of-hours-duc-de-berry)
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1st January
New Year’s Day
Source: The Book of Christmas, The Enchanted World, Time-Life Books
Today is New Year’s Day. There are many traditions associated with the bringing of good luck on 1st January, in the belief if good fortune greets you at the start of the year, it will stay with you for the full twelve months. The most well-known of these is first-footing, in which a tall dark male outsider enters the home soon after midnight, bearing coal, salt and cake, symbolising the warmth, wealth and food that the custom is supposed to bestow on the house. These gifts collectively were known as handsel. The first footer should always be well entertained by the household after having completed his task. Sometimes of course first-footing is not pre-planned. If a friendly neighbour wanders in to wish you a Happy New Year, and he or she is bearing nothing, a miserable year is in prospect.
In addition to customs bringing good fortune, there were others designed to drive out ill luck. In medieval times a ritual known as “rattling the town” took place in which a group of townsfolk, elaborately dressed and masked, would run through the streets, striking walls and doors with staves, so as to drive out the bad spirits of the old year and enable the community to start anew.
Another tradition that takes place today at Kirkwall, on Orkney, is a rough and tumble football match (the Ba’ Game) that takes place in front of the cathedral at Mercat Cross. It starts at 1pm but can last up to seven hours. The teams are divided into Uppies and Downies, signifying uptown and downtown, and the object of the game is to kick a cork-filled ball across one of the town boundaries by any means necessary. 120 players take part and Association Football rules are non-existent.
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Strange how old dusty libraries and stained pages of books makes you feel alive and fresh as new.
| pagesofjasmine
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