Medieval Entertainers and Feasts

Posted by admin Jul 30 2011, 8:46 pm in Eliza Knight, Medieval Entertainers, Medieval Feasts

During medieval times, nobles and royals often enjoyed themselves at feasts and with entertainers who were employed to–well, entertain them! Probably one of the reasons people today enjoy such venues as Medieval Times and Renn Fests!

If you’ve taken my A Noble’s Life in Medieval Times, then you will recognize this post as one of the lessons. I thought it important to share with anyone who has yet to take the course! Enjoy

Troubador

 Musicians and musical instruments were used everyday. Some instruments include: flute, recorder, gemshorn, lute, psaltery, vielle/viol, fiddle, harp, organ, bagpipes, and drums. Instruments were not the only form of music however, singing and poetry were also popular. Singers/storytellers were often referred to as troubadours (vernacular lyric poet) jongleur or minstrel. A story could be sung, chanted, or told in an expressive voice. You didn’t have to have a fancy title however to be a singer, and sometimes family members and friends would sing to entertain each other as well. Songs could be religious in origin, tell a folk tale or a real life adventure, or be a little more vulgar in nature. Dancers often accompanied the musicians. The nobles would often join in the dancing or watch was their seated place.

Some extremely wealthy houses had their own musicians, but most musicians traveled from place to place.

Other forms of entertainment were plays. Plays could be put on by the party who is attending the feast or a drama group could come and perform for the guests. Plays could be mythological, religious, re-tell a real tale, be political, or comical.

For some very wealthy nobles every mid-day meal (the biggest most important meal of the day) could be a feast. For others feasts occurred on special occasions and when guests came to visit. Feasts could take place in the courtyard depending on the weather, or in the great hall.

Feasts weren’t just about the food, but also about entertainment. The people would dance, listen to music, listen to stories, watch a play, talk with friends, and of course eat. Food and drink were plenty, and there were always more options to choose from than any one person could eat. If you were attending a feast, you may take a bite of several different dishes and be full. Toasts were given, and everyone had a merry time.

Check out these articles I’ve written on the subject:

Four and Twenty Blackbirds – http://historyundressed.blogspot.com/2008/02/four-twenty-blackbirds.html

Medieval Cookery – http://historyundressed.blogspot.com/2009/01/medieval-cookery-and-special-guest.html

Medieval Beverages – http://historyundressed.blogspot.com/2008/10/medieval-beverages-tasty.html

Eliza Knight is the multi-published author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. Visit her at http://www.elizaknight.com/.

A new release from Eliza Knight! A Lady’s Charade, a medieval romance novel, is now available in electronic format from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks and Smashwords!

Book Blurb…

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More Than Words

Posted by admin Jul 11 2011, 10:00 am in A Lady's Charade, Eliza Knight, medieval romance

Originally this post was supposed to go out on June 30th… but Blogger was messing with me, so it has posted today! As you read this, I am (was) in NYC at RWA’s 2011 National Conference… And this year for the first time I’ve decided NOT to bring my computer! Crazy, (yes it was crazy! I came home to ver 2000 emails…) I know, but each year I don’t use it, and my laptop is HUGE. It takes up so much space, and its heavy… and for some reason my sexy footman has failed to show up this morning to escort

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Chestertown Tea Party Festival

Posted by admin May 30 2011, 10:00 am in Chestertown Tea Party Festival, Eliza Knight

This summer, my husband, three daughters and I have decided it will be a Summer of History. We will try to do something historical every weekend, with a minimum of twice a month. We kicked off our Summer of History this Memorial Day weekend with visit to Chestertown, MD and their annual Tea Party Festival. In May of 1774, the citizens of Chestertown MD, did in fact protest the British Parliaments closing of the port of Boston, and marched on the town and decided they too would forbid the import of tea. The townspeople marched down High Street, airing their

11 Comments

Buried Alive…Dungeons

Posted by admin Mar 30 2011, 10:09 am in Eliza Knight, medieval dungeons and torture

There is something eerie and haunting about entering a dungeon. Your breath feels halted in your chest, your heart rate quickens, and your eyes scan the dark depths for shadow people and ghosts of past prisoners who died, having already been buried alive, beneath the castle fortress. While the word dungeon, brings to mind underground places–and indeed in many places they were, the word is originally derived from donjon, a French term for Tower–which is above ground. Throughout history, most prisoners were kept, in actual towers cells, however the most famous and immortalized are those dark, decrepit underground cells. It has been said

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