boy bishops

boy bishops
   In medieval times, most English cathedrals and abbeys, collegiate churches, and schools, used to reverse the structures of hierarchy at midwinter by selecting a young choirboy to act as 'bishop' or 'abbot'. Wearing appropriate robes, he would preside at services, preach a sermon, and lead a procession through the streets blessing the people - during which money would be collected for the upkeep of the institution he represented. His term of office began on *St Nicholas's Day (6 December) and ended on *Holy Innocents Day (28 December); in London and some other towns, he was actually referred to as 'St Nicholas'. The last known example in England was at Gloucester Cathedral in 1558.
   ■ Neil Mackenzie, History Today 37 (1987), 10-16; Hutton, 1996: 100-4; Wright and Lones, 1940: iii. 194-7; Hazlitt, 1905: 68-71.

A Dictionary of English folklore. . 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Boy bishop — was a name given to a custom very widespread in the Middle Ages, whereby a boy was chosen, for example among cathedral choristers, to parody the real Bishop, commonly on the feast of Holy Innocents. This custom was linked with others, such as… …   Wikipedia

  • Fiesta del obispillo — Representación de un obispillo medieval. La fiesta del obispillo[1] es una antigua tradición navideña que se remonta a la Edad Media, y consiste en la investidura de uno de los niños de la escolanía de una catedral o abadía co …   Wikipedia Español

  • Niño obispo — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Dibujo de la tumba del niño obispo en Salisbury (Wiltshire, Inglaterra). La fiesta del niño obispo u obispillo fue una costumbre muy extendida en la Edad Media, en la que se elegía a un niño, por ejemplo entre los… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Massacre of the Innocents — For the painting by Peter Paul Rubens, see Massacre of the Innocents (Rubens). The Holy Innocents by Giotto di Bondone. The Massacre of the Innocents is an episode of infanticide by the King of Judea, Herod the Great. According to the Gospel of… …   Wikipedia

  • Holy Innocents, Feast of the — ▪ Christianity also called  Childermas , or  Innocents Day        festival celebrated in the Christian churches in the West on December 28 and in the Eastern churches on December 29 and commemorating the massacre of the children by King Herod in… …   Universalium

  • Merry England — For other uses, see Merrie England (disambiguation). Poor little birdie teased, by the 19th century English illustrator Richard Doyle. Traditional English fairytales depicting elves, fairies and pixies are set on a Merrie England setting of… …   Wikipedia

  • St Nicholas — (4th century)    Little is known of the real life of this Bishop of Myra in Turkey, but he was very popular in the Middle Ages. Legend says he once resuscitated three little boys whom an innkeeper had murdered and salted down to make into pies,… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • religion — religionless, adj. /ri lij euhn/, n. 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and… …   Universalium

  • Catholic sex abuse cases — The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders.[1] These cases began receiving public attention beginning in …   Wikipedia

  • Pope John Paul II — John Paul II John Paul II in 1993 Papacy began 16 October 1978 Papacy ended 2 April 2005 ( 1000000000000002600000026 years, 1000000 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”