History of Plough Monday: Start of the Agricultural Year

Plough Monday. Image: Historic UK

PLOUGH MONDAY: START OF THE AGRICULTURAL YEAR

Plough Monday signifies the traditional start of the English agricultural year, being the first Monday following the
January 6th Epiphany and the attendant revelries of Twelfth Night.

Like last week’s Distaff Day for women, it marked the day men returned to their regular (farm) work.

How did it signify men returning to work after Christmastide celebrations?

Plough Sunday Blessing

“God spede the Plough and send us ale corne anow, our purpose for to make..” Image: Resiliance

The day before Plough Monday is Plough Sunday, when farm laborers brought their cleaned and decorated ploughshares to the local church for blessing and prayers for a good crop. On Plough Monday, the plough was paraded in costume through the village with music, dancing, and performances asking for money.

Locals made donations for various reasons, not least because laborers had taken Christmastide off without pay. Additionally, the donations contribute to community events like Molly dancing.

Plough Monday Traditions

• In the 15th century, churches lit “plough lights”, candles to bless farmworkers and remain lit throughout the year.

• In the 16th century, plough races were held in Cambridgeshire on Plough Monday. They were revived in 1980.
  

  Plough in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, as part of the Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival procession. Image: Historic UK

• In the East Midlands, a Plough Play might be performed by young men, similar to a Christmas Mummers’ Play, but with different themes. The Calverton Plough Play is performed each January in Calverton, Nottinghamshire.

Initially associated with the eastern part of England (East Anglia, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire), we know it spread as far west as Cornwall and as far north as Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Revival of Plough Monday

With the advent of mechanized farming brought on by the Industrial Revolution, the celebration began to wane. They all but disappeared after World War II.

However, in the ’60s and ’70s, as part of the second British folk revival, which reintroduced folk music and dance, Plough Monday customs were revived.

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com