"you look enviously at claims regarding the days off available to medieval Western European peasantry"
Yeah I never believe those. Why? Because Christmas is pretty much THE day off, even for Protestants and one thing I repeatedly remember every year, for many years was that after we had gathered for breakfast and some presents, some of my family would have leave early "because there was milking to be done" and cows don't care about holy days.
And this was of course using modern methods and technology. I have heard from my family what it was like when the milking had to be done by hand.
So yeah, holy days the peasants might have worked less, but it wasn't a day off like we think of a day off unless something like the weather enforced it. And if animal husbandry is part of your duties, the weather doesn't give you much vacation either.
It has seemed more fanciful to me over time. I want to believe, but the reality has to have been different. As you say, animals and plants care nothing for calendars.
I feel you on the Retirement Countdown Clock: 2 years, 11 months, and 29 days on mine.
Cool info about the tabernacle. Thanks!
"you look enviously at claims regarding the days off available to medieval Western European peasantry"
Yeah I never believe those. Why? Because Christmas is pretty much THE day off, even for Protestants and one thing I repeatedly remember every year, for many years was that after we had gathered for breakfast and some presents, some of my family would have leave early "because there was milking to be done" and cows don't care about holy days.
And this was of course using modern methods and technology. I have heard from my family what it was like when the milking had to be done by hand.
So yeah, holy days the peasants might have worked less, but it wasn't a day off like we think of a day off unless something like the weather enforced it. And if animal husbandry is part of your duties, the weather doesn't give you much vacation either.
It has seemed more fanciful to me over time. I want to believe, but the reality has to have been different. As you say, animals and plants care nothing for calendars.