In the medieval world, January 1 wasn’t actually New Year’s Day (that was March 25), but the anniversary of Jesus’s circumcision (according to the church). In fact, unlike many Christmas traditions, there’s very little in the way of New Years traditions we still do today that have medieval origins. Nevertheless, this was still a time of feasts, parties, and the medieval equivalent of the Black Friday sales (think less angry queues and more nobility buying themselves fancy swords and jewel encrusted model ships). In this special episode, Matt Lewis explains what medieval society got up to around this time of year, and why medieval new year was actually March 25.

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Music:

Able - Joseph S Greenier, David John Vanacore

Walk Tall - Johannes Bornlof

Dreams of Tomorrow - Daniel James Nolan

Godsend - Johannes Bornlof

Galivant - Bradley Andrew Segal, Bong H. Jung, Chang Wooi Kang

Reverse - Matthew Burnette Heath, Noel Arthur Goff, Kristen Lee Agee

We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Kevin MacLeod / unknown (english christmas carol), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Worst - Brian Scott Carr, Kristen Lee Agee

Vad Rost, Vad Ljuvlig Rost Jag Hor - Kurt Lyndon

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Medieval New Year

Gone Medieval