December 28th & 29th

Holy Innocents’ Day, Feast of Fools

Holy Innocents’ Day is the third day of Christmas and considered to be the unluckiest days of the year. It is held that on this day all children under 2 years of age were slaughtered by Herod in an attempt to eliminate the Infant Jesus–the predicted king of the Jews. The star is associated with this day, and the Innocents are the patrons of all children and foundlings.

A popular holiday during the Middle Ages, the “Feast of Fools” captured the light-hearted spirit of Saturnalia. On this day, roles were reversed, masters waited on their servants, and the often-puritanical reverence of the Christmas season was replaced with frivolity and pleasure.