boy bishop

boy bishop

▪ medieval custom
      boy chosen to act as bishop in connection with the Feast of the Holy Innocents (Holy Innocents, Feast of the) on December 28, in a custom widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages. In England, where the practice was most popular, a boy bishop was elected on December 6—the feast of St. Nicholas, the patron of children—and retained possession of his office through the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The boy bishop was frequently chosen from among the choir boys, but in some regions the honour was given to one of the children attending the school attached to the cathedral or monastery.

      Once the boy and his colleagues took possession of the cathedral they performed all the ceremonies and offices except mass. Several ecclesiastical councils attempted to abolish or restrain the abuses of the custom, and the Council of Basel (Basel, Council of) prohibited it in 1431. It was, however, too popular to be easily suppressed. In England it was finally abolished by Elizabeth I. An analogous custom survived until late in the 18th century in Germany, where on March 12 a schoolboy was elected bishop in honour of St. Gregory the Great, the patron of schools.

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  • Boy bishop — was a name given to a custom very widespread in the Middle Ages, whereby a boy was chosen, for example among cathedral choristers, to parody the real Bishop, commonly on the feast of Holy Innocents. This custom was linked with others, such as… …   Wikipedia

  • Boy-Bishop — • The custom of electing a boy bishop on the feast of St. Nicholas dates from very early times, and was in vogue in most Catholic countries, but chiefly in England Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Boy Bishop     Boy Bishop …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Boy bishop — Boy Boy, n. [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube, Icel. bofi rouge.] 1. A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son. [1913 Webster] My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] Note …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • boy bishop — noun A mock bishop formerly elected by choirboys or schoolboys, in office from St Nicholas s to Holy Innocents Day (6–28 December) • • • Main Entry: ↑boy …   Useful english dictionary

  • Boy bishop — In the lead up to the *Feast of Fools, minor clerics and choir boys conducted services and other roles of senior churchmen. The boy bishop was the choir boy who was elected to be bishop on St Nicholas s Day, 6 December …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

  • BOY BISHOP —    a boy chosen on 6th December, St. Nicholas Day, generally out of the choir, to act as bishop and do all his episcopal duties, except celebrate mass. For the term of his office, which varied, he was treated as bishop, and if he died during his… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Boy — Boy, n. [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube, Icel. bofi rouge.] 1. A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son. [1913 Webster] My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] Note: Boy …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Boy's love — Boy Boy, n. [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube, Icel. bofi rouge.] 1. A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son. [1913 Webster] My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] Note …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Boy — For other uses, see Boy (disambiguation). Boyhood redirects here. For other uses, see Boyhood (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

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