Calendrical Uniformity versus Planned Uncanniness

Abstract

Walpole writes of the legendary Glastonbury thorn not cooperating with Great Britain’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752. According to legend, this hawthorn grew from a staff brought to England by Joseph of Arimathea—the owner of the tomb in which Jesus’ body was placed. The thorn bloomed on Christmas according to the Julian calendar, and after the calendrical reforms of 1752, it continued to bloom around Julian Christmas rather than the Christmas of the Gregorian calendar. Walpole’s wit chides the superstitious and the pope at the same time—the tree refused to cooperate with the pope’s decree, and the populace superstitiously believed that mattered.

Tollimus autem et abolemus omnino vetus calendarium [Therefore, we entirely destroy and abolish the old calendar]

—From Inter Gravissimus, Pope Gregory the XIII’s bull instituting the Gregorian calendar

Near two years ago the popish calendar was brought in; (I hope by persons well-affected!) certain it is that the Glastonbury thorn has preserved its inflexibility, and observed its old anniversary. Many thousand spectators visited it on the parliamentary Christmas-day— Not a bud was to be seen!—On the true Nativity it was covered with blossoms. One must be an infidel indeed to spurn at such authority.

—Horace Walpole (1798 [1753], 160–161)