Formerly called Merkis days or Rets o' da year
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
The Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar in Britain in 1752, but for many years after the change was regarded in Shetland with suspicion and events were still celebrated in the 'old style' rather than the 'new style'. Sometimes 12 days were added and sometimes 13. Some of the days marked were a throwback to pre-Reformation times and varied from district to district.
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January
- 1st
New'er-day Not celebrated to any great extent formerly.
- 6th
Treteen-day Minor festival (Old Christmas)
- 17th
Antonsmas Earlier called St Anthony's Day.
"Da sna nivir comes i da hus till Antinsmas" and "Antinsmas sna is da warst sna"
- 29th
24th Nicht or Up Helly Aa
(in 1881 Up Helly-Aa was changed to 29th January, and in 1908 to the last Tuesday for convenience)
February
- 2nd
Candlesmas
"If Candlesmas Day be bright an fair
Half o' da winters ta come an mair
But if Candlesmas Day be dark and dül
Half o' da winter was dün at Yule"
"First comes Candlesmas, dan da new mün, da first Tjasday eftir is Fasterns E'en"
(Until the 18th Century, people burned candles in the ruins of old kirks, such as St Ninian's Isle and Cross Kirk, Eshaness, despite the efforts of the Church to stop them. These special candles were kept at home and lit if there was lightning, or they suspected the presence of evil.)
- 22nd
Petersmas
- 24
Lobersmas
- 27
Fastern E'en (A moveable festival)
Da Lentern was from Fasterns E'en until Easter.
March
- 17th
Bogel-day.
Start of the crofting year, and delling was started. Da Voar was from Bogel-day until Beltin.
Skür-Fursday. Moveable festival, six weeks after Fasterns E'en.
Guid Friday. Again, six weeks after Fasterns E'en.
Paes Sunday. Fires were lit in the hill where bairns boiled eggs and threw them in the air.
- 25th
Marrimas
- 29th, 30th, 30th.
Da Borrowin days. Storm expected.
April
- 14th
Simmermill day.
This marks the start of the summer half-year, the weather on this day determined the weather for the coming month, the wind direction would be the main wind direction for the summer. Start of the four-month'Simmer-dim'.
- 16th
Maunsmas
May
- 1st
Beltin-day
Haaf fishing begins. A Northerly gale 'da Beltin-ree' or 'da Lamma-ree' expected.
Beltin (or Beltane) was an important date in the pagan calendar. Bonfires were lit to symbolize the life-giving powers of the sun, and also to ward off evil. In Shetland, bonfires were burned until the late 1800's. Fathers would take their children in their arms and leap through the flames. An open air party, or foy, was usually held and fishermen held their own foy to signify the start of the haaf fishing.
- 3rd
Corsmas Old teind collecting day. Observed particularly in Northmavine
June
- 24th
Johnsmas
Traditionally the start of the herring fishing. The Dutch boats would arrive and wait in Bressay Sound (Known to the Dutch fishermen as 'De Bai') until the 24th.
Johnsmas Foy was held with a huge bonfire where people gave thanks for their blessings.
Midsummer for the Norsemen was associated with the death and subsequent rise to Asgard of Baldur, God of Light. This was the height of the sun's power, before the return of the darkness.
July
- 4th
Martin o' Bollamas day
Named after St Martin le bouillant (boiling). This was the summer feast of St Martin, the winter feast being Martinsmas. According to tradition, if it rains this day, it will rain for forty days more.
August
- 1st
Lammas day
The end of the haaf fishing (the three months from Beltin to Lammas) Boats were hauled up and put in their nausts for the winter. There was a Lammas Foy, to which all the fishermen in the area would bring their wives or sweethearts. People drank each others health and sang, but there was never any dancing at a Lammas Foy.
- 23
Laurensmas
The day begins to set.
September
- 21st
Matjomas (Mathewmas)
Equated with the autumnal equinox and stormy weather. Gales would destroy standing fields of corn, leaving a tangled mess called 'eker'.
- 29
Miklsmas, (Michaelsmas) This marked the end of the growing season, crops would grow no further.
October
- 14
Winter Day, the winter half-year begins.
- 31st
Hallow-e'en
November
- 1st
Samhuinn or Hallowmas. Much celebrated, skeklin went on for days.
Samhuinn was the most important date in the pagan calendar, marking the start of the new year. All over the world, people believed that the souls of the dead could visit earth for one night on the eve of Samhuinn, or All Hallow's Eve as it became known. The Church tried to give Samhuinn a new Christian meaning, and re-named it All Saint's Day. Shetlanders believed that the trows came out to play tricks around the croft and the skeklers were out guizing to remind folks of the trow's antics.
- 3
Solomon's E'en
- 11th
Martinsmas
Martinmas was the date when rents were settled and new terms of tenure would begin.
- 30
Andersmas
December
- 4th
Barbarasmas
- 17th
Sow Day
- 19th
Mansmas begins.
- 20th
Tamasmas E'en. Yule begins
- 21st
Tamasmas Day.
- 22nd
Tollig's Ee'n.
- 23rd
Tollig's Day. (In Iceland, this is 'Thorlaksmessa')
Brenja's Sunday, the Sunday before Yule. Also recorded as Beainer Sunday. It was a custom to hang an ox-head above the chimney to be made into broth.
24th
Yule E'en.
25th
Yule Day. Great celebration, men and boys played football. Dance at night.
26th
Second day Celebrations
28th
Foort-day Celebrations
31st
Mansmas Day, Helja's Nicht.
On Helja's Nicht, a supper of meal and milk was served and Midder Mary was asked to look after the bairns.
