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| Distaff Day is a medieval holiday that concludes the Twelve Days of Christmas. A distaff is a stick or spindle used to draw out wool, cotton, or linen and spin it into thread. Spinning was women's work, and the term "spinster" represented an unmarried woman who spent her days doing mundane, necessary tasks. The blunt side of the distaff was considered "female," while the sharp side of the distaff was called the "spear," a phallic term representing the male aspect. In medieval times, household chores were put on hold throughout Yule, but once the festival ended, women picked up their distaffs and went back to work.
Practice magic of hearth and home by placing a distaff or spindle on your altar: use it as a symbol of the God and Goddess, or inscribe with the Gebo rune and use it to meditate on the balanced relationship between hard work and celebration. |
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