| <p> a festival celebrated during the [[Middle]] [[Ages]] in many countries of Europe, especially in France, with grotesque, ceremonies. It was an imitation of the Saturnalia, and, like that festival, was celebrated in December. The chief celebration, fell on New Year's or Innocents' Day; but the feast continued from [[Christmas]] to the last Sunday of Epiphany. At first only the young boys of the choir and young sacristans played the principal parts in it, but afterwards all the inferior servants of the [[Church]] were engaged, the bishop and thee superior clergymen, with the canons, forming the audience. The young people who played the chief parts chose from their own number a bishop or archbishop of fools, as he was called, and consecrated him, in the principal church of the place, with many absurd ceremonies. This mock bishop then took the seat usually occupied by the bishop, and caused high mass to be said. During the performance, the others who took part in the play, dressed in masks and different disguises, engaged in indecent songs and dances, and practised all kinds of follies. It fell into disuse in the 15th century, but some of its features yet remain in the [[Carnival]] (q.v.).-Tilliot, Memoires pour servir 'a l'histoire de la fete des foux (Lausanne, 1751); Schrockh Kirchengeschichte, 28:271; 32:55; Siegel, Christl.-Kirchl. Alterthumer, 4:115. (See Boy-Bishop). </p> | | <p> A festival of wild mirth in the Middle Ages, held on 1st January, in which the [[Ass]] of [[Scripture]] celebrity played a chief part, and in which many of the rites and ceremonies of the Church were travestied. </p> |
| <ref name="term_39991"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/feast+of+fools Feast Of Fools from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref> | | <ref name="term_73108"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/the-nuttall-encyclopedia/fools,+feast+of Feast Of Fools from The Nuttall Encyclopedia]</ref> |
