 | Quarter days: Encyclopedia - Quarter days
Quarter days
In British and Irish tradition, the quarter days were the four dates in each year on which servants were hired, and rents and rates were due. They fell on four religious festivals roughly three months apart.
The English quarter days (also observed in Wales) are:
- Lady Day (March 25)
- Midsummer Day (June 24)
- Michaelmas (September 29)
- Christmas (December 25)
Lady Day was also the first day of the year in the British Empire until 1752. The British tax year still starts on 'Old' Lady Day (6 April under the Gregorian calendar corresponded to 25 March under the Julian calendar).
The Irish quarter days were observed on the same days as in England. They are no longer generally observed.
The Scottish term days are:
- Candlemas (February 2)
- Whitsunday (May 15)
- Lammas (August 1)
- Martinmas (November 11).
The Term & Quarter Days (Scotland) Act 1990 redefined these dates, at least in official use, as the 28th day of February, May, August and November respectively.
The significance of quarter days is now limited, although leasehold payments and rents for business premises in England are often still due on the old English quarter days.
The English term cross-quarter days refers to holidays derived from the Celtic calendar. They are Candlemas, May Day (May 1), Lammas, and All Hallows (November 1).
Categories: Cleanup from November 2005 | Calendars
Other related archives1752, 25 March, 6 April, All Hallows, August 1, British, Calendars, Candlemas, Christmas, Cleanup from November 2005, December 25, February 2, Gregorian calendar, Irish, Julian calendar, June 24, Lady Day, Lammas, March 25, Martinmas, May 15, May Day, Michaelmas, Midsummer Day, November 11, Scottish term days, September 29, Wales, Whitsunday, cross-quarter days, religious festivals, tax year
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Quarter days", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
