Martinmas

November 11th is the feast of St. Martin of Tours, who was a Roman soldier. He became famous for having saved the life of a beggar by cutting his own cloak in half and giving it to the beggar to shelter him during a snowstorm.

In Scotland during the middle ages, Martinmas was a "term day", one of four which divided the legal year. On these days, rent and interest were due.

Scott incorporated Martinmas into more than one of his novels. In Rob Roy, for example:

"...Ye're mad Rob," said the Bailie --"mad as a March hare -- though wherefore a hare suld be mad at March mair than at Martinmas, is mair than I can weel say..."