for January 1
EVENTS
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1348: |
Albert II crowned King of Hungary |
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1515: |
Francis of Angoulême becomes King of France |
ANNUAL EVENTS & HOLIDAYS
The Feast of Fools
Every year during the middle ages, throughout Europe and particularly in France, the Feast of Fools was celebrated on or about January 1st. A wild festival where strict Christian morals were abandoned and ridiculous rites were practiced, the Feast included absurd traditions such as choosing a young boy as "pope" or "bishop" and relegating the highest local church officials to the status of servants for the day. Many ridiculous ceremonies were performed and people generally cut loose.
The Catholic Church tried repeatedly to ban the Feast of Fools, but its popularity and the emotional and psychological outlet it provided kept it flourishing into the sixteenth century, even under the threat of penalties imposed by the Council of Basle. The Feast most likely had its origins in the Roman Saturnalia.
WHO WAS BORN
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1431: |
Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) |
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1484: |
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1499: |
WHO DIED
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533: |
St. Fulgentius |
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As Bishop of Ruspe, Fulgentius took the side of orthodoxy against Arianism in the controversy of the sixth century. He also wrote polemics against Semipelagianism. Fulgentius' feast day is celebrated on January 1. |
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Medieval History |
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