St. Distaff's Day

According to the Book Of Days (scroll down), January 7th is St Distaff's Day.  There is no saint called Distaff, it was just the day people were expected to return to work, and work for the women included spinning.  Robert Herrick wrote this poem about it:

St. Distaff's Day; Or, the Morrow after Twelfth-dayPartly work and partly play


You must on St. Distaffs Day:

From the plough soon free your team;

Then cane home and fother them:

If the maids a-spinning go,

Burn the flax and fire the tow.

Bring in pails of water then,

Let the maids bewash the men.

Give St. Distaff' all the right:

Then bid Christmas sport good night,

And next morrow every one
To his own vocation.'

I went back to work today, despite my main route being closed for the next year.  I'll be spinning in the evening.  Still working on the baby camel.

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