The New Murrey and Blue blog

Advent

A medieval Christmas at Rievaulx Abbey….

Dec 26, 2022

buildings, religion

Advent, Christmas, monks, Rievaulx Abbey

In the medieval period Christmas was actually a solemn occasion in abbeys, and was celebrated appropriately. The austerity of Advent preceded the marvel of Christ’s birth, and while there was a little gift-giving and entertainment, it bore no comparison whatsoever to the flapping around and overindulgence of today. Read more about the monks’ Christmas at…
The importance of fish in the medieval diet….

Jan 23, 2020

culture, religion, sources

Advent, Anne Boleyn, dietary laws, Edward VI, fish, fishing, fishtraps, food preservation, Henry VIII, Joan de Valence, John Howard Duke of Norfolk, Kathryn McGowan, Lent, mediaeval food, pike, ponds, predators, salting, Severn Estuary

There is no disputing that fish was very important to the medieval diet. The Church ruled that not only was it required food on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but also for Advent and the forty days of Lent. And I’m sure there were other days when it was mandatory too, but the previous sentence covers…