In Regency England, the quarter days were important events on the calendar. Rents were due, school terms started, and servants might be paid and hired. In England, these four dates fell on: Lady Day or March 25, Midsummer or June 24, Michaelmas or September 29, and Christmas Day.

In Scotland, an older calendar held the quarter days to be Candlemas or February 2, May Day on May 1, Lammas or August 1, and All Hallows on November 1. In England, these would become known as the cross-quarter days.

The older calendar for Scotland came from the Celtic year, which held that winter ended February 1. The feast day was named Imbolc (which literally means “in milk”). Ewes began to lamb and lactate, and life and light returned. This was the celebration of Brigid, the Light-Bringer. Even today, this feast day is known in Gaelic as Là Fhèill Brìghde. Continue reading “St. Bridget’s Day, Candlemas and Quarter Days” →