The Festive Year

Decisive points in the solar calendar, which have been recognized in nearly every culture, including the prehistoric, have evolved into holy days. Thus, the winter solstice developed into Christmas, while Passover, from which Easter evolved, began as a spring harvest festival. Christian festivals were often placed on the days previously occupied by pagan holidays so as to make replacing them easier. The seven-day week, anchored by the sanctity of Sundays, is not only rooted in the Book of Genesis – the number seven has been associated with holiness for millennia, going back to the ancient Babylonians. The number is rooted in the seven planets and the fact that the cycle of the moon is easily divided into four, seven-day periods, even if it technically averages a little more than 29 days. It is for these reasons that the church year does not have a fixed beginning and end point with regard to the secular calendar. This compendium of ten single sheets from some of the finest manuscripts in the world, and the accompanying commentary, gives a detailed and artful survey of this fascinating topic.
1. The Life of Mary
Bedford Hours, Paris, ca. 1423–1430
British Library, London

1. The Annunciation at the Well
   Cotton Psalter, Germany, mid–12th century
   British Library, London

2. Christmas
   The Benedictional of St. Æthelwold, Winchester, ca. 980
   British Library, London

3. The Three Magi
   Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry, France, 1411/1416
   Musée Condé, Chantilly

4. Epiphany (January 6th)
   Missal of Archbishop Zbyněk Zajíc of Hazmburk, Prague, 1409
   Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna

5. Holy Week (Entry into Jerusalem)
   The Benedictional of St. Æthelwold, Winchester, ca. 980
   British Library, London

6. Easter
   Drogo Sacramentary, Metz, ca. 850–855
   Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

7. Ascension Day
   Hours of Etienne Chevalier, France, mid–15 century
   Musée Condé, Chantilly

8. Pentecost
   Drogo Sacramentary, Metz, ca. 850–855
   Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

9. St. Martin
   Mother Rule of the School of St. Martin, Venice, 1362
   Museo Correr, Venice