Plough Sunday is a traditional English celebration of the beginning of the agricultural year that has seen some revival over recent years.
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Plough Sunday Celebrations
Plough Sunday celebrations usually involve bringing a ploughshare into a church with prayers for the blessing of the land. It is traditionally held on the Sunday after Epiphany, the Sunday between 7 January and 13 January. Accordingly, work in the fields did not begin until the day after Plough Sunday: Plough Monday.
• As well as a ploughshare, in rural areas, it is common for local farmers to attend the service with their tractors - both new and old (see photo above).
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Plough Monday Celebrations
Plough Monday is the traditional start of the English agricultural year. While local practices may vary, Plough Monday is generally the first Monday after Twelfth Day (Epiphany), 6 January. References to Plough Monday date back to the late 15th century. The day before Plough Monday is sometimes referred to as Plough Sunday.
The day traditionally saw the resumption of work after the Christmas period.
• In some areas, particularly in northern England and East Anglia, a plough was hauled from house to house in a procession, collecting money.
• They were often accompanied by musicians, an old woman or a boy dressed as an old woman, called the "Bessy", and a man in the role of the "fool".
• 'Plough Pudding' is a boiled suet pudding, containing meat and onions. It is from Norfolk and is eaten on Plough Monday.
• See Plough Monday for more information.
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Top Photo:
• A Plough Sunday gathering outside a village church in Tickhill, Yorkshire, Great Britain
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