Januar
By thys fyre I warme my handys
Februar
And with my spade I delfe my landys
Marche
Here I sette my thinge to sprynge
Aprile
And here I here the fowlis synge
Maij
I am as lyght as byrde in bowe
Junij
And I wede my corne well i-know
Julij
With my sythe my mede I mawe
Auguste
And here I shere my corne full lowe
September
With my flayll I erne my brede
October
And here I sawe my whete so rede
November
At Martynesmasse I kylle my swyne
December
And at Christes masse I drynke redde wyne*
So I found the above poem describing the yearly farming cycle. And in the second last stanza, beneath November, it says 'At Martynesmasse I kylle my swyne." So what on Earth is Martynesmasse?
The Feast of St. Martin or "Martinmas", 11 November.