In the traditional calendar which features the kind of British history that those who go on about standing up for it have never heard of 25th November is St Catherine’s Day.
Its the counterpart to the more male focused St Clements Day on 23rd November
St Catherine was beheaded in 305AD but 25th November is mainly a secular holiday where observed. It is variously held to mark the beginning of winter (11th November St Martins Day) and/or the start of Advent (1st December) in the modern calendar.
Its associated with lacemakers- St Clements being blacksmiths focused- and with cattern cakes, a kind of spiced fruit bun. These have latterly been reinvented and become popular while fireworks to mark the day- the Catherine Wheel- are also a feature.
The drinking of alcohol is not specifically mentioned but no traditional feast day was complete without beer and wine
Leave a Reply