EMBER-WEEKS, are those wherein the ember or embering days fall.

In the laws of King Alfred, and those of Canute, those days are called ymbren, that is, circular days, from whence the word was probably corrupted into ember-days: by the canonists they are called quattuor anni temporae, the four cardinal seasons, on which the circle of the year turns: and hence Henshaw takes the word to have been formed, viz. by corruption from temper of temporae.

The ember-days are, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, after Quadragesima Sunday, after Whit-Sunday, after Holy-rood day in September, and after St Lucia's day in December: which four times answer well enough to the four quarters of the year, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

Mr Somner thinks they were originally fasts, instituted to beg God's blessing on the fruits of the earth. Agreeable to which, Skinner supposes the word ember taken from the ashes, embers, then thrown on the head.

These ember-weeks are now chiefly taken notice of, on account of the ordination of priests and deacons; because the canon appoints the Sundays next succeeding the ember-weeks, for the solemn times of ordination: Though the bishops, if they please, may ordain on any Sunday or holiday.