December 21: St Thomas’s Day
Today, 21st December, as well as being the Winter Solstice, is the traditional date for the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, also known as Didymus and “Doubting Thomas”.
As Sophie Jackson points out in The Medieval Christmas, Thomas was a carpenter and “was revered for his generosity”, so on his feast day it was traditional for old women, children and the poor to “go Thomasing”, i.e. walk the streets collecting alms.
Here’s a rhyme about this day:
“St. Thomas day, St. Thomas grey,
The longest night and shortest day.”
Perhaps today could be a day of giving, whether it’s a donation to a charity, help to someone in need, or just a smile to brighten someone’s day.