The Middle Ages were a time of lively and sometimes strange traditions. One such tradition was the Festum Asinorum (literally, the Feast of the Donkey), a festive celebration held on January 14. This unique festival honored the humble donkey, especially the one that carried Mary and the infant Jesus on their flight to Egypt after Herod’s decree. The donkey also carried Jesus in his entrance into Jerusalem before His passion. While the exact origins of Festum Asinorum remain unclear, it likely originated sometime during the 11th and 12th centuries. The festival flourished primarily in France, where it was known as the Fête de l’Âne. It often coincided with, or even served as a precursor to, the Feast of Fools, another merry and mischievous festival held around the same time. The festivities themselves (as is often the case with folklore) were a mix of the sacred and the profane. A donkey, decorated with a crown and ribbons, would be led in procession through the village and into the church. The priest would preside over a special “Mass of the Donkey,” including a sermon occasionally delivered from the donkey’s back. The seemingly irreverent nature of the Festum Asinorum has puzzled and intrigued historians for centuries. Some interpret it as a form of social satire – the presence of the donkey in a sacred space seen as an opportunity for the lower classes to mock local authorities, as if in a pre-carnivalesque feast of sorts. But most scholars see it as a celebration of humility and simplicity, reminding the faithful that even the humblest of creatures can play a role in God’s plan. Viewed through the lens of medieval culture, it can be seen as a feast that celebrated humility, docility, and diligence.
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