Spinning demonstration to take over museum for St. Distaff’s Day

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — One local organization is putting a new spin on an old custom to mark the end of the holiday season.

The North Peace Spinners and Weavers Guild will celebrate St. Distaff’s Day on Saturday afternoon, with a demonstration taking place at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.

Spinning is a custom where fibres are spun into thread or yarn for textiles. It was a key contributor to the textile industry before the industrial revolution gave way to newer – and more efficient – ways to create clothing, including the spinning jenny.

While the name of the day sounds biblical, it is in fact not: a distaff is simply the tool used in the spinning process.

The day, first occurring in the Middle Ages, took place after the 12 days of Christmas and was the sign of women returning to the spinning wheel after spending the holiday with their family.

The male equivalent of St. Distaff’s Day was Plough Day, which was held the first Monday in January after the holidays, when men first ploughed the fields.

The demonstration has happened at the museum for the past eight years, said museum curator Heather Sjoblom.

“We usually do it on the Saturday that falls closest to the 12th day of Christmas or January 6th,” said Sjoblom. “It’s a fun thing to take the kids to see, if they have never seen it before.”

The club will hold demonstrations with interpretive signs showcasing the history of spinning. 

The demonstration will take place at the museum from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 3rd at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum at 9323 100th Street. 

Admission to the event is free.