The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare

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calendar, Shakespeare's

calendar, Shakespeare's.
Protestant countries, including England, still used the Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar) in Shakespeare's day, though Catholic countries had accepted the more accurate ‘New Style’ Gregorian calendar in 1582 (named after Pope Gregory XIII). Consequently dates were the subject of debate, particularly the date of Easter, which was five weeks apart for Catholics and Protestants by 1599. Britain and its colonies only converted to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. At the same time New Year's Day was moved from 25 March (the feast of the Annunciation and Lady Day) to 1 January (a date which had been originally rejected by Christians because it was associated with a celebration of the god Janus). In Shakespeare's day the date of the year changed in March not January.

The following list gives the dates of festivals and other significant days, many of which are no longer celebrated, mentioned by Shakespeare in his...

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