Eggs and Bacon: A Medieval Easter
As we’ve been celebrating Easter recently, Cathryn takes a look at how people in the Medieval era spent this time of year.
Shrovetide: Shrove Sunday, Collop Monday, Shrove Tuesday
Shrovetide, or the three days before Lent were seen as a time of preparation and reflection. It began with Shrove Sunday, when people were encouraged to confess their sins ahead of Lent. Next came Collop Monday, this was the last day when meat could be cooked and eaten before the restrictions of Lent started. The traditional meal on Collop Monday was bacon and eggs. Pigs were kept by most Medieval families; and these would be butchered at the start of winter and the meat preserved by salting or smoking, hence the bacon. Eggs were also banned during Lent, and these were used up both on Collop Monday and Shrove Tuesday. As well as using up any eggs and dairy products, on Shrove Tuesday people would also participate in activities such as feasting, music and sports. This was one last moment of fun before the sombre period of Lent started.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday and Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent. During this time meat, eggs and dairy were banned, with fish being allowed. There were practical, as well as spiritual reasons for Lent restrictions. Winter food stores would have been depleted and any animals too young for slaughter. In the early Middle Ages people were allowed one meal a day after sunset. By the 1300s the meal was moved earlier in the day, with a snack being allowed in addition. As the Lent diet was rather monotonous, Medieval cooks became very creative with their recipes. For example, almond milk was used as a dairy milk alternative by the wealthier classes. As mentioned earlier, fish were allowed on fasting days, so many Medieval recipes will be listed as, for example, ‘pie for a fish day’ even if the recipe itself contains no fish. Altogether about half of the days of the year were fasting days, so apart from being creative with recipes, people tried to find other ways of working around the restrictions. People could get buy dispensations which allowed them to eat meat on fast days, and there were some interesting animal classifications. For instance, beavers were classed by Medieval people as a fish.
In addition to fasting, Lent was a time when everyday life became more austere. In churches, there was no music and flowers were removed. Also, no weddings were held. In many countries laws banned things such as public entertainments and people would often dress in their plainest clothes.
Holy Week Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday
Feasting!
Holy Week began with Palm Sunday. Much like today people took part in recreations of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, walking in procession carrying tree branches to represent palms. These branches were blessed and were made from either evergreen trees or those whose leaves grow very early in the spring. In England, boxwood or yew was often used. These ‘palms’ would be burned the following year for use on Ash Wednesday. On Maundy Thursday, churches were cleaned and confessions heard. From the time of Edward I, Maundy money was given out and the monarch would wash the feet of selected poor people.
Good Friday was viewed as a day of mourning, with church services being held in darkness, save the light of one candle. Hot cross buns, commonly eaten on this day are believed to date from the 1360s, first created by a monk at St Albans Abbey. Finally on Easter Sunday was a day of feasting after the Lent fast. It was common to give decorated eggs as gifts and church services had a theme of renewal. The celebrations didn’t stop there on Easter Monday it was common for fairs to be held and for people to watch or take part in sports and hunting.
So, there you have it, how medieval people celebrated Easter.