In short we learned about Lords and Ladies, Knights and Chivalry, Feasts and Entertainments, King Arthur and Robin Hood (and everyone in-between)…so that a feast was a perfect way to Become History with our guests a few days before Thanksgiving.
Invitation to Medieval Feast
Because our guests would be my parents, whose last name is German, I designed the invitation with a German theme, incorporating their names:
Guests of Honor: Duke ______von _______, Holy Roman Empire and his Duchess ________
Welcome to Castle Bobcat Creek
Home to Queen L, Lady C, and Ye Olde Pardoned Outlaw, Robin Hood
We provided a script (of an authentic Medieval Feast in the Old English) to our guests and a cheat sheet of Old English vocabulary to use throughout the Feast.
Presenting Ye Olde Trumpeter
There was plenty of fanfare from the trumpeter who made all the announcements beginning each new portion of the feast.
A Collection of Food for the Poor
After Lady C read a history of Thanksgiving which dates back to the Middle Ages, she explained the required manners (which was hilarious).
Following the prayer, she took a collection of food for the poor.
Wassail Ceremony
We learned the derivation of the word wassail comes from the Anglo-Saxon, weshal, for to be in good health.
Together we sang Here we go a’wassailing, followed by many pronouncements from around the room of hearty Wassail, wassail! Drink to your health!
Presentation of the Salt
Lady C explained the significance of the saltcellar to the guests who had come through our time-portal. Because salt was a highly valuable condiment, only attained from travels afar, it was placed in the middle of the table. The Lord and his family were seated above the salt, while the other guests were seated below the salt.
Uppercrust Ceremony
For the uppercrust ceremony I presented bread cut in half horizontally to our guests while Lady C explained the significance…honored guests are the upper crust.
Aquamanile Ceremony
Then Lady C brought to each person seated at the table the beautifully scented aqumanile, which was full of water, herbs, rose petals, and orange rinds to wash our hands. Robin Hood followed with a towel for us to dry our hands.
Presentation of the Exotic Peacock
Medieval Feasts were all about fanfare, and part of the fun was the presentation of each food. While the trumpeter blew his horn and announced each item on the menu, Lady C brought them out on cue, such as soup of fungi and leek in a pumpkin shell.
I was last with the most exotic of the food items, the peacock.
Merry After-dinner Entertainments
Again, feasts were all about entertainments. Back in the day that meant court jesters, acrobats, musicians, and more. Um…my kids weren’t up to any of that. But they were willing to read their IEW essays!
Lady C and Robin Hood, in the tradition of Homer before them, regaled our guests with stories of heroes of yore: St. Patrick, Charlemagne, King Alfred, Knights and their Code of Chivalry, and Marco Polo.
Presentation of Castle Pie…with a Surprise
(drum roll please…ahem…trumpeter?)
The trumpeter blew his horn and importantly announced, Castle Pie, which Lady C brought to the table with great dignity.
After Lady C laid the pie on the table, I reached over to…remove the lid of the pie, from which emanated chirping birds that move (even though they are plastic)!!!
On cue the kids and I sang:
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing.
Wasn’t that a dainty (or dandy) dish
To set before the king?
(Many thanks to Gruene for the singing birds! I love shopping there!)
Since the pie was more spectacle than edible, I had marzipan songbirds we had made for dessert. Yum!
Presentation of the hymns
Lady C helped us end the evening with beautiful hymns written in the Middle Ages.
Be Thou My Vision
An Irish hymn
written 8th century AD
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Written by Theodulph of Orleans while imprisoned in a French monastery
AD 820
All Creatures of our God and King
St. Francis of Assissi
AD 1225
The Trumpeter Bids Farewell
Farewell, farewell to one and all
‘Tis time to leave this festive hall
Remember this day, the one true Son
He is the Christ, the Risen One
And as you leave be merry and bright
Remember to spread God’s glorious light!
Read about how we made our Coat of Arms, here and about how we made the stained glass here. Our illuminated manuscripts project is here.
