Medieval New Year

Did you know that in the Middle Ages, the New Year didn’t start on January 1st? Across such a vast period and within a geographical area encompassing all of Europe, the differences were significant.

For example, during the time of Charlemagne and the Carolingians (8th to 10th century), the chosen date was December 25th, the birth of Christ. One of our adventures reflects this, namely the tale of the Green Knight, which begins, just like in the original poem, right before the New Year, coinciding with Christmas.

Beginning of the Green Knight's adventure: Arthur and his companions feast for the New Year.

Later, in the 11th century and up until the 15th, under the Capetians (in France), the New Year was tied to Easter, between March and April, as it was a movable date. However, in other places, the year began on the Annunciation, March 25, or even on the 1st! Many Arthurian tales depict these springtime celebrations as exceptional moments that mark the start of a new cycle. Each year at Pentecost, a grand banquet is held, gathering all the Knights of the Round Table, a period that marks the anniversary of the High King's coronation!

Here’s a small anecdote from the book Life in a Medieval City by Joseph and Frances Gies:

“A traveller setting out from Venice on March 1, 1245, the first day of the Venetian year; finding himself in 1244 when he reached Florence; and after a short stay going on to Pisa, where he would enter the year 1246. Continuing westward, he would return to 1245 when he entered Provence, and upon arriving in France before Easter (April 16) he would be once more in 1244."

Quite the brain teaser, isn't it! 🤯

14th-century illumination depicting the activities of the month of December with lots of plant ornamentation and a list of the days of the month, with the names of the saints for each day.

Ultimately, it was the adoption of the Gregorian calendar (1582) by Pope Gregory XIII that made January 1st the popular start of the New Year, although King Charles IX of France had already mandated this date in 1564! In 1622, the pope’s authority officially imposed this date on all Catholic countries. As for Britain (which had not been Catholic for quite some time!), it wasn’t until 1752 that they adopted January 1st as the start of the new year!

There you have it, whatever your preferred date, we wish you happy holidays and a joyful (medieval) New Year!

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Sources:

https://www.herodote.net/almanach-ID-3.phphttps://www.medievalists.net/2015/12/celebrating-the-new-year-medieval-style/

https://clg-doisneau-gonesse.ac-versailles.fr/spip.php?article101

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/nouvel-an-2021/nouvel-an-comment-le-1er-janvier-est-devenu-le-premier-jour-de-l-annee_6274110.html

https://castlesandturrets.com/2021/01/03/how-to-celebrate-the-new-year-medieval-style/ 

Gies, F., & Gies, J. (2010). Life in a Medieval City. Harper Collins.

Clélia & the Artifice Studio team