I like when I read an old novel or historical account and a holiday that is no longer important or is forgotten is involved. Here is a small sample of my favorites.

1.Boxing Day

This still exists and many countries still have it on the calendar but no one in my world knows what it is. I tell people “Happy Boxing Day” and it is always followed by a quizzical look.

Boxing Day today for many is a day of shopping (or returning). In history it may have been a day that was designated for charity or donations to the poor. This does make sense since Boxing Day is traditionally celebrated on December 26 – 28 depending on your location and many of us still try to keep charity as an important element to our Christmas celebrations.

I’ve read that people that had servants would give those in their employment the day off. With the Christmas celebrations complete, this would have been a day for the servants to celebrate Christmas or simply to rest. I’ve also read that the servants would have prepared meals for their employers ahead of time and would have served them the boxes before their day off. Boxing Day.

Personally, I like to treat boxing day as part of the Christmas celebration. We rest, clean up any remaining messes and perhaps put away a few decorations (but not a lot). I serve leftovers and maybe empty a few containers of excess food.

2. Michaelmas

Jane Austen seemed to love this holiday. Michaelmas is a marker of time in every one of her novels except Northanger Abbey.

Mr. Bingley is to take possession of his home by Michaelmas. Henry Crawford is hoping to have a home and wife by Michaelmas. Harriet Smith is surprised that Mr. Elton could have fallen in love with her since she barely knew him at Michaelmas. The Crofts move into Kellynch Hall at Michaelmas. In Sanditon, Lady Denham travels from London at Michaelmas.

Today, Michaelmas is September 29th and celebrates the archangel Michael and his defeat of the devil. The holiday has been celebrated since the Middle Ages and has been used for different events throughout the centuries.

It was a day off as people were expected to attend church. It was an election day as manors elected the reeve. It was used as a hiring day for temporary workers. It was used as a day to collect rent.

On Michaelmas, one should eat goose to ensure they don’t have money issues and one should not pick blackberries after Michaelmas.

3. Twelfth Night

The twelve days of Christmas. As a kid, this sounded awesome. As an adult, it sounds exhausting. But at one point in history, the Christmas celebration was long and joyous, ending in Twelfth Night.

People gathered January 5th or 6th, sang songs and engaged in wassailing, ate Kings Cake, and later would perform the Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night.

Honestly, it sounds lovely. January can be bleak and depressing for many. Maybe we need a little more singing and wassailing.

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