A Celebration of Women’s Work in Textile
Introduction
Distaff Day, also known as Roc Day or Rock Day, is an annual celebration held on January 7¹². This day celebrates the distaff, a tool used in spinning, and what it symbolized during medieval times – the efforts and work of women in textile².
The Distaff: A Symbol of Women’s Work
The distaff, or roc, used in spinning was the medieval symbol of women’s work¹. It is a tool used in spinning to hold the wool or flax before spinning it onto the spindle, keeping the fibers untangled and making the entire spinning process easier². Spinning was the only means of turning raw wool, cotton, or flax into thread, which could then be woven into cloth¹.
The Tradition of Distaff Day
In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas¹. Women of all classes would spend their evenings spinning on the wheel. During the day, they would carry a drop spindle with them¹. Distaff Day takes root in this old tradition where women returned to their regular household chores 12 days after Christmas².
Celebrations and Pranks
Men have their own way of celebrating this occasion, called Plough Monday, the first Monday after Epiphany when men are supposed to get back to work¹. Every few years, Distaff Day and Plough Monday fall on the same day¹. Often the men and women would play pranks on each other during this celebration, as described by Robert Herrick in his poem “St. Distaff’s Day”, which appears in his Hesperides (1648)¹.
Modern Celebrations
In the 20th century, Herrick’s poem was set to music¹. Some modern craft groups have taken up the celebration of Distaff Day as part of their New Year celebrations¹. Distaff Day gatherings are held, large and small, throughout local fiber communities¹.
Conclusion
Distaff Day is not just about commemorating and celebrating women’s work in the home, but it’s also about acknowledging the rich history of making clothes and the evolution of a simple but important tool called the distaff². Today, spinning has become more of a hobby than a house chore², but the celebration of Distaff Day serves as a reminder of the significant role women played in the textile industry.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/30/2023
(1) Distaff Day – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distaff_Day.
(2) DISTAFF DAY – January 7, 2024 – National Today. https://nationaltoday.com/distaff-day/.
(3) What is Distaff Day? – Orlando Distaff Day, Inc. https://orlandodistaffday.org/what-is-distaff-day/.
(4) Distaff Day: Celebrating Women’s Traditional Role in Fiber Arts. https://nationaldaycalendar.info/distaff-day/.
