Presentation Transcript

1. Holidays, Festivals, Celebrations in the Elizabethan Era

   By : Sonia Wisniowska, Mike Crews, Calvin Chan
2. January: Twelfth Night Date of Celebration : January 5th -The people drink a traditional hot and spicy punch called ‘Wassail’, they drink to each others health and the trees health as they dance around an apple tree - They bake a dense fruitcake with various objects with in, people who found things their cake were deemed different things -The ‘Oxborn Dance’ is performed to bring luck in the future
3. February: St. Valentines Day Date of Celebration : February 14th On St. Valentines Day you eat “foods of love” which includes rare roast beef in golden pastry and roasted chestnuts in cream Gorgeous fragrances are used, including Rosemary, Basil, Yarrow & Bay leaves which float in water or are released by spice candles - “Love knots” were a symbol representing love without a beginning or end, these knots were made of gold, a metal that never tarnishes to symbolize never-ending love Activities of the night include choosing a partner that symbolizes a mate for marrying and pairs getting shot by Cupid’s “love arrows”, were said to be “Valentines”
4. March : Easter Date of Celebration: Changes Medieval Easter was celebrated according to the sun and the phases of the moon, the holiday could start anywhere from March 22nd to April 23rd The celebration was not just one day but a 120 day cycle of fasts and feasts Easter begins 9 weeks before Easter Sunday, on a holiday called ‘Septuayesima’ and 8 weeks after Easter Sunday in Trinity Day, Easter Sunday is the central day of the cycle - Easter is a celebrated because it is the time when Spring defeats Winter
5. April : All Fool’s Day Date of Celebration : April 1st Celebration of everything ridiculous, the world is turned “upside-down” and the more drunk everyone gets the funnier the festivities are Clothing is worn backwards and this celebration is meant to be as hilarious as possible Instead of the King and Queen sitting at the head of the feast, the Jester sits there Everything takes place backwards Meant to be a small break from reality, to give people a break from order At the same time it is a celebration to realize how ludicrous the world is without order and return to the world of rules and law willingly
6. May : Mayday Date of Celebration: May 1st May Day celebrates the change of seasons, many rituals performed are to celebrate “Spring back into the world” The center of Mayday is the May pole Games and contests would take place around the May pole Doors, windows and banquet halls were decorated On May Day all food and drinks are coloured green and people played board games
7. June : Midsummer’s Eve Date of Celebration : Starts with the Summer Solstice Midsummer’s Eve celebrates the Summer Solstice (days are the longest, nights are the shortest), it honours the Earth’s awakening after the winter sleep and the creation of young new leaves and grasses At candlelight they chanted the 4 “secret” questions “Green is Gold, Fire is Wet, Future’s Told, Dragons Met”, which are all rare occurrences that happened on the night of Midsummer’s Eve This festival was held outside when possible, with large bonfires
8. July : St Swithin’s Day Date of Celebration : July 15 St. Swithin’s day borrowed activities and customs from other month’s celebrations, particularly May and June Instead of celebrating a new season, on this holiday, people celebrate the things Summer has to offer: fruits, vegetables and other pleasures of outdoors Rain on St. Swithin’s day is said to predict 40 consecutive days of rain A dry St. Swithin’s day is said to predict 40 consecutive days of rain
9. August : Lammas Day / Lammastide Date of Celebration: August 1 August is bread time, bakers give fun geometry lessons by baking different breads A feast is always held on Lammas Day, foods are always closely associated with bread. For example, muffins, pretzels, pies and buns Also, on this celebration, the couple who has been married the longest and who shows that they are truly in love get to enjoy pork while everyone else is eating bread
10. September : Michaelmas Date of Celebration : September 29th After St. George, St. Michael is the most honoured dragon fighter, this holiday was in honour of him, St. Michael even appeared in the bible This holiday is celebrated with two’s G’s: Glove and Goose Every year a 10-foot glove is made to signify the beginning of Michaelmas, this glove is stuffed with wood chips so that it can be seen from miles away On this holiday many people travel to the Michaelmas festival to celebrate The traditional menu always features goose
11. October : Halloween Date of Celebration : October 31 Celebration of the end of the Ancient Pagan Lunar Calendar Mixed traditions from other celebrations into one Halloween signals the beginning of Winter This is the day before All Saints Day, ghosts, spirits, witches are believed to be most powerful Children wear masks and go door-to-door asking for soul cakes, if they do not get a soul cake they play pranks on that house At the festival, apple-bobbing is played - Crowdie is the most important food served
12. November: St. Catherine’s Day Date of Celebration : November 25th Guests take a seat in the dark banquet hall as the fire juggler begins to twirl the lighted torches, beside him are flaming wheels called ‘Catherine Wheels’ The candles on the tables of the feasters illuminate the room dimly to show more performers on wheels hanging from the ceilings and walls Every guest wears a wheel shaped pin or a spiked wheel decoration Holiday honours St. Catherine of Alexandria, famous woman Saint - Finale of St. Catherine’s Day is fireworks ceremony
13. December : Christmas Date of Celebration : December 25th -Celebration lasts 12 days It is the most anticipated holiday Begins on Christmas Eve (December 24th) and end on Twelfth Night (January 5th) Revolves around the number 12 - Sweet foods and desserts are the highlight
14. “Smartest” Contest One clip from each holiday will be played very quickly Write down the clip number beside the correct holiday Winner will be deemed the “Smartest” and will have a very important decision to make, also this person will be crowned the “Queen of May” or the “King of May” and will get to make and put the first decoration on the Maypole