The Christmas season not only provides
an antiquarian treasury; it is my favourite time of year. And even by the old
calendar (according to which I might celebrate Twelfth Day Eve tonight), I must, with a sigh, admit that it
is finally once more at an end. Perhaps few are aware of the mid
eighteenth-century calendrical
transformations that allow such a contrived extension of festivities?!
Some (mostly, but
not only, in the South-West) do still keep up ‘Old Twelvy’ traditions, by Wassailing orchards on January
17th. But I regret that such celebrations are now a minority pastime; and I
expect that many would now see resistance to the transition from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar
in 1752 through such observances as merely superstitious opposition to change.
The 'loss' of eleven days was surely
most unsettling: we might imagine how many today would react to the prospect of
retiring to bed on September 2nd, and arising the next day on September 14th!
How might we now also respond to
a corresponding transference of New Year’s Day to another date in the calendar?
Transmission of the turning year from March 25th, to January 1st, clearly caused
more perplexity for contemporaries, than it continues does for modern-day historians
(resulting in the need to convert ‘old dates’ – o.d. – into ‘new’ – n.d.; the
requirement to add a year to those that fall between Jan. 1st and Mar. 25th before
the change can be most confusing)!
I look forward to finding further
comments and incidents relating to this episode in English history, with
particular regard to Derby and the County. Hitherto, I have encountered only occasional
references to this change within the local newspaper, the Derby Mercury.[i] But at this
time, this publication (the only newspaper of the town) primarily reported news
of national interest; and I would like to know more about affects upon everyday
life!
I may collate more information
within a future journal entry, and perhaps integrate this within a public talk.
Notes
[i] E.g.
in the previous year, regarding the Parliamentary Bill:
Derby Mercury, 15 March 1751 (o.d.!).
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