In Belgium, the Monday after Epiphany is called "lost Monday" and is a day of universal idleness. Hence probably has arisen the custom, not confined, however, to Belgian workmen alone, of idling every Monday or as they call it "making blue Monday."
Plough-Monday is the first Monday after Twelfth Day (6th of January). It is so called because, the Christmas holidays being over, the men return to their plough or daily work. It was customary on this day for farm laborers...
I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Plough Monday
Today we are snowed in and I fully intend to have a very idle Monday. Thanks for letting me know about this tradition so I can arrange to be idle in coming years as well!
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