Parkin (cake) in November had many Christian festivals, and like Celtic festivals that preceded them they were celebrated with a fire and ritual cakes. November starts with All Hallows Eve, that runs into All Saints Day (1 November), which is followed by All Souls Day (2 November). Little Lent and the forty-day fast until Christmas, started at Martinmas. (11 November). On All Souls Day soul cakes were baked. The Martinmas fair was important being the traditional day when cattle were bought and sold, and servants were hired for the following year. It was also the date that cattle were slaughtered and salted
Abbey of St. Martin, Autun Autun eventually acquired what remained and undertook restoration in 1976–77. The renovated buildings now operate under the name "Prieuré Saint-Martin" as a local government social centre, with rooms for hire. Abbey of St. Martin, Autun The Abbey of St. Martin is a former Benedictine monastery in Autun, Saône-et-Loire, France, to the northeast of the city just outside the city walls, on the right bank of the Arroux and to the north of the Roman road from Autun to Langres, Beaune and Besançon. The abbey was founded by Queen Brunhilda and the bishop of Autun, Saint Syagrius, in or around 589.