Trouble in Paradise
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Renn Faire Question
I've never been to one, but it sounds like we have a few people who have attended, so I have a question.
What is the connection between Renaissance Faires and actual history? Do people study to participate in the faires, and if so, what kinds of sources do they use? Also, why do you like the Renaissance?
Re: Renn Faire Question
My knowledge is largely TV based, too. Like, people wear old timey clothes and eat turkey legs.
(P.S. They didn't really have turkeys in the Renaissance since turkeys are native to the New World. BOOYAH!)
I can't believe we were posting the exact same thing at the exact same time. You're like my miniature twin.
I love going! Part of it is the make-believe fun. FI is my knight, and I'm his lady. Part of it is experiencing something so out of the ordinary. Part of it is the comraderie- the same people go year after year.
Also, it's got lots of crafts that you won't really find elsewhere. Handmade EVERYTHING, herbs, spices, demonstrations on glass blowing, falconry, jousting.
You don't have to study at all. Just go!
And yea... totally the pretty pretty dresses.
Well...
I'm in PA, and we have one of the biggest Renn Faires in the country. So, yes, a lot of it has historical base. For example, Queen Elizabeth wanders the grounds, there's a joust and a lot of demonstrations of things like working a forge, falconry, etc etc. The actors are all parts of troupes that travel the country performing in various Renn Faires.
The people who attend in costume are in 2 camps: those who try to keep it accurate and the anime kids. I generally go for costumes with some basis in period garb, for example I have an elaborate gown and a tavern wench costume, both of which are similar to what the pros there wear (my sister is an awesome seamstress and rips off costumes for me). Then I have some stupid fun ones like a pirate outfit that I wear when I go with the non-nerd friends. They seem to get weirded out when I show up in a corseted overskirt and hoop petticoat, but not when I'm flashing the cleavage with a dagger strapped to my side. There are a people who show up in fairy wings and cat ears and I HATE THEM.
I like the Rennaisance because I got sucked in to fantasy early on. The first book I checked out from the library and read by myself was The Hobbit. So I've been eating this stuff up since I was about 6. I'm also one of those people who plays RPGs and my friends and I play Dungeons and Dragons weekly (it's actually Pathfinder right now but... that's another post). Also, the Renn Faire itself is an excellent source for herbs, incense, cauldrons, gemstones, etc etc. Oh, and ours is held on the grounds of Mount Hope Winery... which has wine that I would live on if possible.
What is the connection between Renaissance Faires and actual history? Many places would hold festivals for celebrations for the royalty. At my home faire, we celebrate Queen Elizabeth's visit to the town.
Do people study to participate in the faires, and if so, what kinds of sources do they use? You don't have to, but it definitely helps. Especially if you have an actual historical character instead of one you created. I have never been on cast so I do not know what their rules are. For my character, I looked up the culture and go from there. I like to use actual historical textbooks instead if just the internet
As far as why, I just always have. I love the attention I get in corsets and bodices. I loves the outfits. I love the romance. I love the simplicity of it compared to now. When I go to faire, its an entire day where I don't worry about technology or work or drama. Inside those gates is a whole other world. The friends I have made are some of the best friends I could have asked for.
I've never understood why they're called Renaissance faires when they seem to draw much more heavily on medieval stuff. Like chivalry and falcons and sh*t. Okay, so there were still falcons in the Renaissance. Maybe it's because I associate the Renaissance much more with Italy than with France/England and the Italians were less involved in the whole knightly culture aspect.
You make it sound like the county fair in costume. Just exchange the pigs for falcons and the tractor pulls for swords.
there are people that study different periods of history (food, drink, dress making, weaponry etc.) and bring it to the Renaissance Faires. Most notably folks who are in SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). You can pick Renaissance or earlier or later (there are some that go later.
http://www.sca.org/
You can also (if you choose) do a Fantasy Type theme. I have a friend who went as a fairy or a dragon. I usually go as a Fairy or Elf from LOTR.
I've even some some World of Warcraft type stuff there too (Blood Elves/Night Elves etc.)
I go to the faires for the shows (Jousting, fireworks, theater shows), food, and to look at the jewelry. You can also find some really awesome candles, incense and costume stuff.
I would guess like Trekk-y or Star Wars (or any other fan following) RenFest is just a flight from reality that is fun for an afternoon. Also, you can exercise your creative muscles in making costumes for each year that you go.
Did I mention the giant turkey legs and giant mugs of beer? Usually there is a kids place with petting zoo and you can ride a camel or elephant. There are competitions of archery and sometimes fencing. Overall its kind of like going to the county fair but you can dress up if you want.
I hope that makes sense and doesn't make me sound like TOO much of a freak.
Currently Reading: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes
I have never seen a witch burning. If anything there is a strong Wiccan type community that thrives inside Renfest.
The closest to public execution type things I've seen is a "beheading" and a "hanging" . No one dies (obviously) but you get to see the reenactment. There is also usually a paid guy in the stocks (that has to suck bootie).
Obviously its going to be a very romanticized version of The Renaissance minus the plagues, horrible persecutions and the like. Can't sell tickets to death and sickness, KWIM?
I had a fight with a guy about this! He was eating one and said, "Living in the rennaisance wasn't that bad!" and I said, "Yeah, they actually didn't have turkeys until they came to the New World. Plus, the New World turkeys were stringy and squishy and nothing like that." and he was all, "Well then why do they sell them!?" and I was all, "Because this isn't REAL."
Edited because I can't use the plural of turkey correctly.
Really? They re-enact public execution? How morbidly fascinating.
OMG that's hilarious. He really thought a faire was an accurate portrayal of people's lives 500 years ago? Someone needs to take a history class!
Yeah, it can be very morbidly fascinating.
RE: Turkey Legs-- yeah, probably would be more realistic to have mutton leg or leg of lamb. That's IF you were rich enough to have meat at all.
I have yet to go to a renfest that serves Eel pie. I just want to try one and don't have the gumption to try my hand it at myself.
I was simultaneously delighted at my good fortune for having met him and terrified for the future of our country.
Not usually carting them around-- its actually scheduled part of the entertainment. You can show up at the area for the public execution. They usually just incite the crowd to boo when reading the crimes.
Sometimes the condemned will pull a Robin Hood and escape with great fanfare. Especially if its part of the story line (yes, renfest will have an over-arching storyline from sunrise to sunset) of that year's faire.
Mostly the general ones-- horse theft, murder... I want to say one was a plot to assassinate the king. Treason etc. Nothing odd as I recall.
I used to do revolutionary war reenacting with my mom and sister but I'm pretty sure the rules and standards are pretty different than renn faires. The people who camp and are invited to participate at the revolutionary war events that we went to are all really sticklers for historical accuracy and rely mainly on primary source documents for their clothes and accessories. My group always said that anything the public who comes in for the event sees must be historically accurate (so you could have coolers or whatever in your tent as long as it was out of sight). Unless someone was presenting a talk or performing in the actual reenactment of a battle part we never spoke or acted as characters though. But like I said, I think my reenacting and renn faires are pretty different.
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Interesting, BicycleBride. Were there rules about women being part of the reenactments? Did all the ladies dress like Molly Pitcher, or were there "Joseph Hooker's girls" if you know what I mean?
(and yeah, I know that's not historically accurate for the Revolutionary war, but how often do you get to drop the phrase "Joseph Hooker's girls"?!)
I saw a renlady in the pip post! minus the turkey leg.
I remember on will and grace like 15 years ago, will said to find him at this interior decoration convention and Grace said that finding a gay dude at a design convention would be like trying to find a loser at a renaissance fair, and I still think it's funny.
We have one around here and I know people that go every year. Some dress up, some don't. I've never been to it myself and I honestly don't understand the draw of it.
I guess it would be fun to dress up and watch some jousting.
The cool thing about the revolutionary war in the area were I live is that we were very much on the edge of civilization at the time. Women were often left on their own with the children and shot rifles to protect themselves. Around here the biggest threat was from native Americans (we have always called them Indians in reenacting but I'm scared of getting flamed for not being PC
). I'm not too sure on the primary source documentation for this but many of the women in our group thought that some women probably dressed as men and fought in the war.
A typical outfit for a woman would be a long sleeve long white shift with a tie skirt and a jacket. All women always wore some kind of cap on their head and usually a straw hat in the sun.
There was one cross dressing lady/man of ill repute but only when the guy was drunk after the visitors had gone home for the day.
In most event that I attended, the men and sometime a few women would have a shoot out with the native Americans while the women and children attempt to run away. Some pretend to die and some get away. You get to scream a lot and act wild which is fun. Sometimes women would arrange with a particular reenactor from the other side some hand to hand combat which always looked cool. Most events I attended were called "The Something Something Massacre".
It's a lot of fun and my mom is still involved and I often help out on the day of the event when the school children come.
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Dx: LPD - 2 TI clomid cyclels & 2 clomid IUI cycles = BFN
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We went to the PA Renfaire for our 1st anniversary. In costume. I rock a corset (although I did get wicked bad sunburn very low on my chest one year). My favorite part is the men in kilts. We switch off between PA and NY. I find the NY faire more historically accurate, mostly because there's more mud.
There's usually some good performances (music, acrobats, contortionists). The food's good (I never get the turkey leg, I like the fruit/cheese/bread platter). Oh, and the guy who works the weaponry exhibit has spectacular dry wit. He's entirely historically accurate except for the cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee. And really, who's going to take coffee away from the heavily armed weapons expert? That's right.