Meal Monday facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meal Monday |
|
|---|---|
| Observed by | Ancient Scottish Universities |
| Type | Academic |
| Date | Second Monday in February |
| 2025 date | February 10 |
| 2026 date | February 9 |
| 2027 date | February 8 |
| 2028 date | February 14 |
| Frequency | annual |
Meal Monday, also known as Oatmeal Monday, was a special holiday for students at the ancient universities of Scotland. It happened every year on the second Monday in February. This day gave students a chance to go home and get more food and supplies.
Contents
What Was Meal Monday?
Meal Monday was a traditional holiday observed by students in Scotland. It was a day off from classes. The name "Meal Monday" came from the main food students ate: oatmeal.
Why Did Students Need a Break?
Students in the 17th century lived very simply. Their homes at the university were basic. They had to bring their own supplies to keep warm. This included firewood or peat, which is a type of fuel.
Life at University Long Ago
Students' diets were also very plain. They mostly ate oatmeal, which they would cook into porridge. This simple way of life continued for a long time. One student from the University of Edinburgh said that learning was done "on oatmeal." They might have a glass of beer on a Saturday night.
Students often came from farms or homes far away. They needed time to travel back and forth. So, the universities scheduled special long weekends. These breaks let students go home and bring back more food and fuel.
How Did Meal Monday Change?
At first, Meal Mondays happened often. Until 1885, the University of Edinburgh had one on the first Monday of every month. This helped students keep their supplies stocked up.
From Monthly to Yearly
By 1896, the University of Edinburgh changed this. They decided to have just one official holiday. This holiday was on the second Monday in February. Other Scottish universities, like the University of Glasgow and University of Aberdeen, also had this academic holiday.
When Did It Stop?
Meal Monday was still celebrated in the late 19th and 20th centuries. A Scottish writer, Alexander McCall Smith, said it was still a holiday when he was a student about 30 years ago. But he noted that students no longer used it to fetch oatmeal.
By the early 2000s, most universities stopped observing Meal Monday. It was no longer an official holiday for students. However, the University of St. Andrews still keeps Meal Monday as a holiday for its "manual staff." This means some university workers still get the day off.
