Medieval Fest
The most exciting, enjoyable, and anachronistic event of Christendom's year has finally come and gone. Every autumn we have the Medieval Fest, which draws students' families, faculty's children, and a good many random townies.
Just like the real Middle Ages, nothing changes much from year to year at Medieval Fest. The same staple events happen each year, with the same booths, the same odd entertainments, and a very similar-looking pig.
1. The booths: There were face-painting, flower-wreath-making, cookie-decorating, and "hot" cider for all. There was supposed to be a trivia booth, too, although I never actually saw this one. (Was there a weak link somewhere in the chain? Has an irreplaceable tradition failed to be observed? Or was I just too busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off to notice?)
2. The Morality Play: Every year there is a morality play. This year's was entitled "Piers Freshman" and was based off William Langland's inscrutable poem Piers Plowman, which the tormented sophomores were guinea-pigged on this year. The play starred a number of entertaining Christendom characters, such as "Legion of Mary," "Work-study," "Pretty Girl," and "Suffer-Thy-Deans-to-Have-Their-Will-For-If-You-Don't-You'll-Pay-a-Very-Dear-Price-Obey-God-in-All-Things-For-So-His-Word-Teaches."
The actors in the play threw themselves into their roles with spirit and a great deal of uproarious ad-libbing. For example,
DEAN: Grovel!!
PIERS: I am grovelling, O mighty Dean!
The humor of the event, if not the seamlessness, was only increased by the character of GPA getting mixed up and running around from side to side of the stage, making herself look like a complete idiot, but also causing the medieval lords and ladies present to snicker. [P.S. This was me.]
3. The disputatio, or Disputed Question: My hero, Dr. F, our Latin professor, introduced the question for debate: "Whether a person who watches television has a soul?" Dr. A, in the persona of a Muslim (complete with three of his wives), took the affirmative: "The Quran says that every shoe has a sole. But those who watch television may wear shoes. Therefore one who watches television may have a soul."
Mr. B, who appeared to be dressed as Thomas More in a fur surcoat and odd hat, took the negative: "On the contrary, Averroes states, 'May one who makes a pun spend eternity gnawing on wormy camel hooves."
Dr. A, the "Ishmaelite dog" (as Dr. F referred to him), was forced to yield his point. His wives retired, hissing.
[Editorial note: I am currently striving to obtain a copy of the whole disputatio. It put the gentle audience in stitches.]
4. Madrigal choir: I am afraid I missed this part. But reports are coming in that it was good. This is a choir that sings medieval songs a cappella, in parts.
5. Juggling: I missed this too. I believe it is a "modern" addition to the festivities.
6. The Pig Roast/Ode to the Pig: The pig (or pigs, in our modern college that requires two pigs to feed everyone) is roasted the night before, at a huge bonfire, accompanied with music ancient and modern. A few brave souls keep vigil over it as it cooks all night and all the following day. A short time before dinner on the day of the festival, the pigs were brought to the middle of the crowd to appear before those they were to feed. They are traditionally given the name of a heretic (because they are burned). Then follows the "Ode to the Pig," a poem addressed to the pig and explaining why they named said pig after the heretic they did.
7. Eating of the Pig: Ick. I did not participate in this part.
8. Dance: Everyone gets to dance in their medieval costumes. I danced with a seven-year-old who resembled a young King Arthur.
Meredith has the pictures on her blog.
Just like the real Middle Ages, nothing changes much from year to year at Medieval Fest. The same staple events happen each year, with the same booths, the same odd entertainments, and a very similar-looking pig.
1. The booths: There were face-painting, flower-wreath-making, cookie-decorating, and "hot" cider for all. There was supposed to be a trivia booth, too, although I never actually saw this one. (Was there a weak link somewhere in the chain? Has an irreplaceable tradition failed to be observed? Or was I just too busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off to notice?)
2. The Morality Play: Every year there is a morality play. This year's was entitled "Piers Freshman" and was based off William Langland's inscrutable poem Piers Plowman, which the tormented sophomores were guinea-pigged on this year. The play starred a number of entertaining Christendom characters, such as "Legion of Mary," "Work-study," "Pretty Girl," and "Suffer-Thy-Deans-to-Have-Their-Will-For-If-You-Don't-You'll-Pay-a-Very-Dear-Price-Obey-God-in-All-Things-For-So-His-Word-Teaches."
The actors in the play threw themselves into their roles with spirit and a great deal of uproarious ad-libbing. For example,
DEAN: Grovel!!
PIERS: I am grovelling, O mighty Dean!
The humor of the event, if not the seamlessness, was only increased by the character of GPA getting mixed up and running around from side to side of the stage, making herself look like a complete idiot, but also causing the medieval lords and ladies present to snicker. [P.S. This was me.]
3. The disputatio, or Disputed Question: My hero, Dr. F, our Latin professor, introduced the question for debate: "Whether a person who watches television has a soul?" Dr. A, in the persona of a Muslim (complete with three of his wives), took the affirmative: "The Quran says that every shoe has a sole. But those who watch television may wear shoes. Therefore one who watches television may have a soul."
Mr. B, who appeared to be dressed as Thomas More in a fur surcoat and odd hat, took the negative: "On the contrary, Averroes states, 'May one who makes a pun spend eternity gnawing on wormy camel hooves."
Dr. A, the "Ishmaelite dog" (as Dr. F referred to him), was forced to yield his point. His wives retired, hissing.
[Editorial note: I am currently striving to obtain a copy of the whole disputatio. It put the gentle audience in stitches.]
4. Madrigal choir: I am afraid I missed this part. But reports are coming in that it was good. This is a choir that sings medieval songs a cappella, in parts.
5. Juggling: I missed this too. I believe it is a "modern" addition to the festivities.
6. The Pig Roast/Ode to the Pig: The pig (or pigs, in our modern college that requires two pigs to feed everyone) is roasted the night before, at a huge bonfire, accompanied with music ancient and modern. A few brave souls keep vigil over it as it cooks all night and all the following day. A short time before dinner on the day of the festival, the pigs were brought to the middle of the crowd to appear before those they were to feed. They are traditionally given the name of a heretic (because they are burned). Then follows the "Ode to the Pig," a poem addressed to the pig and explaining why they named said pig after the heretic they did.
7. Eating of the Pig: Ick. I did not participate in this part.
8. Dance: Everyone gets to dance in their medieval costumes. I danced with a seven-year-old who resembled a young King Arthur.
Meredith has the pictures on her blog.
posted by Sheila at 8:50 PM
4 Comments:
The Medieval Fest is the most enjoyable SAC event ever. I wish I could have been there for the Disputed Question! My sophomore year Dr. A (as Ibn somebody) faced the Illustrious German Philosopher Dr. C, while Dr. F was the moderator. The Question: does dating render a man unfit for liberal studies? Please, if you get a e-copy of the debate, publish it or let me know! I would love to read it.
The St. Greg's Guys juggled last year, over behind Bl. Margaret. I think St. Greg's provides the college with a consistant supply of jugglers. Did they have the quarter staff contest, where guys try to push each other off the log? That event drew crowds to the balcony of the Commons, back when the festival was held *at* the Commons. The new, gorgeous library is really the perfect spot though.
I'm glad it was such a good time.
Yes, there was quarterstaff.
I agree, the library is a great spot. We were going to make the centre pillar of the courtyard into a Maypole, but we never managed that one. Maybe next year.
The disputed question wasn't conducted in Latin?
Sounds like it was good fun anyway!
Well, there were "quotes" in Latin, Greek, and Arabic. But we got translations. The funniest part was when Aristotle was quoted as saying "Hey!" (esoteric Greek and Dr. A. pun, don't mind me)
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