The distaff, or roc, used in spinning was the medieval symbol of women's work.
[1] In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas.
Spinning was the only means of turning raw wool, cotton or flax into thread, which could then be woven into cloth.
Often the men and women would play pranks on each other during this celebration, as described by Robert Herrick in his poem "St. Distaff's Day",[2] which appears in his Hesperides (1648).
Distaff Day gatherings are held, large and small, throughout local fiber communities.