A Clerk of Oxford: The Anglo-Saxon Year

The seasons, the elements, and the natural world (BL Harley 3667, f. 8)

Among other interests of this blog, I've written a number of posts about Old English texts which describe different moments in the cycle of the year. I thought it would be helpful to collect these together in one place - so here's an assortment of posts which describe the natural and liturgical year, as seen through the eyes of Anglo-Saxon writers.

Winter, Advent and the Christmas Season

Winter in Old English poetry: 'After that comes Winter's Day'

Three sermons for Advent: 'Þeos tid oð midne winter'; 'This world is like a man grown old'; 'Christ the Golden Blossom'

A series of posts exploring the Old English poems based on the 'O' Antiphons, beginning with 'O Clavis David'

Advent, Apocalypse, and Tolkien's Arkenstone: Christ the Arkenstone and 'The Hobbit'

Readings of some Christmas extracts from the Old English translation of the Gospel

A Christmas sermon: 'þe word is geworden'

Ælfric's Sermon for New Year's Day

A sermon for Epiphany: 'Ða easternan tungelwitegan gesawon niwne steorran beorhtne'

A sermon for Candlemas: 'A Twofold Burgeoning of Awe and Love'

A description of Anglo-Saxon liturgical practice on the Feast of the Purification and a story about St Dunstan at Candlemas

The Presentation of Christ, from the Benedictional of St Æthelwold (BL Additional 49598, f. 34v)

The sun (BL Harley 603, f.33v)

Ascension Day and the Summer

Old English poetry about the summer, which begins on 9 May

A May Miscellany, including a poetic description of summer in the Menologium

A sermon for Rogationtide

Christ the Bird and the Play of Hope: An Anglo-Saxon Ascension, from Cynewulf's Christ II

A sermon and poem for Pentecost

The Summer Solstice, in the Menologium and Ælfric's De Temporibus Anni: 'Se lengsta dæg'

Harvesting (BL Harley 603, f. 66)