Do you know your Regency calendar?
During the Regency, the year was divided not only by months and days, but also in reference to dates corresponding to the church calendar.
Quarters & Terms
The legal and scholastic year was divided into four terms, starting in October. Between terms, the courts were not in session.
- Michelmas Term (October-December)
- Hilary Term (January-April)
- Easter Term (April-May)
- Trinity Term (June-July)
Quarter days were used to start terms of labor or rents.
- Lady Day: March 25
- Midsummer: June 24 (note festivities were the 23rd and 28th)
- Michaelmas: September 29
- Christmas: December 25
Important Holidays
- Twelfth Night: January 5
- Epiphany: January 6
- Candlemas: February 2
- May Day: May 1
- Lammas: August 1
- Guy Fawkes Day: November 5
- Martinmas: November 11
2 Responses to “Do you know your Regency calendar?”
The only reason I knew any of this is entirely thanks to Jane Austen- I was in high school, read the word Michelmas, and basically said what the hell. Then I looked it up!
Yes, exactly! (I really need to reread the six soon. It’s been ages.)