[Scmusenet] Celebrate "Distaff Day" at the Hagood Mill

[Allen Coleman]

RELEASE DATE:  January 2, 2007                             

EVENT DATE: January 6, 2007

FOR RELEASE:  Immediate

CONTACT: Ed Bolt, Hagood Mill Site Manager, at (864) 898-2936, edb at co.pickens.sc.us 

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"Distaff Day" at the Hagood Mill

 

In England, as well as other countries the days from Christmas through Twelfth Night were considered a time of rest from the labors of spinning. 

 

The maidens returned to their work on St. Distaff's Day, January 7th. This day was also known as Rock Day, which is derived from the German word rocken, which means both distaff and woman's. Thus we get the expression "spinning on the rock" which many historians have erroneously confused with a place instead of a day. 

 

Although the maidens resumed their work on St. Distaff's Day, the ploughboys did not return until the Monday following Twelfth-Night. They used this discrepancy to no good by playing pranks on the busy spinners. Most traditional of these was to set fire to the tow and flax which was awaiting processing. The spinners in turn would quench the fire with buckets of water, drenching both fire and firebug. 
 
The Fiber Friends Guild will celebrate St. Distaff Day a day early, on Saturday, January 6, 2007 from 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center.  No fires or pranks are planned but they will be bringing their spinning, knitting and other handwork along with some Holiday snacks to share.   One and all are invited to come join in as they "return to their work" after a Joyful Holiday Season. 

 

In addition to the spinners, luthier, Wayne Turner, will be present for the day, building a dulcimer and answering questions about musical instrument construction and repair. 

 

The Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center is located just 3 miles north of Pickens or 5 ½ miles south of Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 off SC Hwy 178 at 138 Hagood Mill Road and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10-4 to tour the buildings and to visit the Mill Site Gift Shop. 

 

For more information please contact the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center at (864) 898-2936 or the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963.

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