One of the interesting details in many of John Galt’s works are the different terms used which signify important times of the year.
Quarter days were important in the past. Those four days, roughly three months apart, signified when rent was due, when servants were hired, term times and other important occasions. They were also the days on which ministers stipends would be due.
Candlemas – 2 February
Whitsunday – 15 May
Lammas – 1 August
Martinmas – 11 November
Originally these were Christian holy days – Candlemas was the feast of the purification. Whitsunday was the feast of Pentecost, sometimes called White Sunday. Lammas celebrated the first fruits of the harvest and Martinmas was the feast of St Martin of Tours.
In a letter to published William Blackwood dated June 1822, Galt writes -
“Owing to the Whitsuntide holidays the printers have been
all idle for the greatest part of this week”.
Other words are used for important dates, for example the time around Christmas was termed Yule and Pace was the word for Easter.
In Irvine, where John Galt was born, the feast of Marymass is still celebrated each year in August with a festival and procession. Marymass was originally a celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15 August). After the Reformation it continued in a different form.
