HAPPY KONDAYBIS 2021 - 18th and 19th October

Kondaybis is a little known day, or sometimes as long as a week, of celebration that used to follow a long period of toil during the Autumn harvest. Normally, it would take place towards the end of October roughly seven weeks after St. Titmous Eve, which marked the night before the particularly important work of bringing in the harvest and performing other tiring farming and land-related toils. It would often take place a fortnight, or so, before Samhain or, later on, All Hallows Eve.

The word Kondaybis is thought to be an evolution of kin-day. A day to be with those you share a kindred spirit, one's kinfolk. Phonological changes over time mean the pronunciation has evolved from Kindaybis, to Kandaybis and eventually settled on Kondaybis. Possibly in line with, or perhaps with the confusion of, the tradition of it starting on a Monday. Bis is thought to mean “again” or “once more”, as it does in music, and may be a nod to the fact that the hard work was not over and that, once again, after the levity was over everyone would be back to work. Another theory is that bis means again as in, we meet again or we will meet like this once more.

Traditionally, Kondaybis was a time when friends and fellow workers would gather to eat, drink, dance and, most importantly of all, play traditional, and often silly, games for a day (or more) of mirth and merriment. Folk from neighbouring villages, who had probably been working close by over the previous weeks, would often engage in village-pride games of archery, barley break, quoits, niddy noddy (which is thought to have evolved into the game we now know as cribbage) and many more. In the 17th century, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire in England, games such as Aunt Sally would be the cause of fierce competition between villages. The break before the completion of harvest, usually marked by the end of October, could be that some of the games required decent weather and ground conditions to play.

Kondaybis was also a time to give thanks to Saint Titmous for keeping people safe, strong, and still have joy in their hearts after all the work. A toast and song were usually given in thanks after a long day and night of merriment. Crowns of Saint Titmous were often given to the victors of the various games who would wear them for many days after the frivolities had ended.

For those who still celebrate Kondaybis today, it is done to celebrate friendship and coming together to share a common purpose or outlook on life. Thanksgiving, in the USA, has its roots in Kondaybis.