Pagan Practices in Medieval Feasts

Posted by Rachel Bellerby Jul 28, 2008

It may seem a contradiction that the first loaves of harvest were taken into church at Lammas, but later in the feast, corn dollies were created for burial in the ground. But perhaps the harvest was so vital to medieval society that people would take no chances and were willing to try whatever they felt would bring good fortune.

Plague and diseases struck seemingly by chance and could decimate a community within a matter of weeks. Pagan practices and charms against ill fortune were passed down the years and if they had seemed to work for distant ancestors, people were still willing to give them a chance.

Festivals such as May Day and even Easter, one of the most important Christian festivals, included pagan elements, which had been gradually Christianised. Worship of the May goddess was replaced with veneration of the Virgin Mary and the pagan goddess Eostre was transplanted by celebrations for the risen Christ. The characters may have changed, but the meaning behind the festivals remained constant.