Happy St. Distaff's Day!

January 7th, St Distaff's Day, it isn't a well known date and in truth it isn't even really a holiday. In days gone by it was the day after the feast of epiphany,the first free day after the 12 days of Christmas. It was the day everyone got back to their normal schedule after all the festivities. The distaff was the tool used to hold the fibers being spun to keep it out of the way. In the middle ages all classes of women spun, it was a task that was done after the days chores were done or was taken to a friends house and done while they visited, this of course was before the spinning wheel was invented. But on St. Distaffs day there was some fun mixed in with the work. The men did not return to there ploughs till after plough Monday, when the ploughs had been blessed. So often the men played pranks on the women, lighting flax on fire and the women in return soaking the men with water.

"St. Distaff’s Day; or, the Morrow After Twelfth Day” by Robert Herrick

Partly worke and partly play
Ye must on St. Distaffs Day:
From the Plough soon free your team;
Then come home and fother them:
If the Maides a-spinning goe,
Burne the flax, and fire the tow:
Scorch their plackets, but beware
That ye singe no maidenhair.
Bring in pailes of water then,
Let the Maides bewash the men.
Give St. Distaffe all the right,
Then bid Christmas sport good-night,
And next morrow every one
To his own vocation.

Though it may not be widely recognized we would like to honor it, even though most of us have probably already gone back to our normal lives. From Jan.7th- 9th we will be having a sale use the coupon code: DISTAFFDAY to receive 10% off your entire purchase from our shop.