Plough Monday

Here in England, the first Monday after the Epiphany is traditionally known as Plough Monday, the start of the agricultural year. It medieval times ploughmen were suppose to return to work on Plough Monday. The tradition has been more renowned in the East of England where celebrations are still seen today. Ploughmen would decorate their ploughs and blacken their faces. They would then form a procession down the street collecting money. Not only did this provide funds at a difficult time of the year, the ritual was thought to bless the harvest and it would flourish during the coming year.