It was thought very unlucky to begin any work on Childermas, Holy Innocents’ Day, and whatever day of the week it fell on was held unlucky for starting anything for the whole of the following year. Bourne set this beside the St Paul’s Day weather omens and the belief that St Mark’s Day foretold life and death. He blamed the monks for copying the heathen division of days into lucky and unlucky.
The weekday of Childermas unlucky all year
28 December · England
Lore and belief
it is very unlucky to begin any Work upon Childermass-Day; and what Day soever that falls on, whether on a Munday, Tuesday, or any other, nothing must be begun on that Day through the Year
From Bourne's Antiquitates Vulgares, p. 163. Read the original
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