The Importance Of Entertainment In The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages are sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages, and rightly so. In a chaotic world after the Roman Empire fell, barbarian tribes in Western Europe struggling to maintain order would become the people of the Middle Ages. Many of the technological feats from Rome were lost, along with its culture. Consequently, medieval people created self-sufficient counties called manors, that were organized in a feudal system in which the monarch was at the top and the peasants formed the lowest class. Despite being difficult, medieval life was not all work; there were a multitude of things they did for pleasure. Although entertainment in the Middle Ages varied greatly between nobles and commoners, both classes enjoyed the holidays and festivals that broke the monotony of everyday life.

Noble entertainment consisted mostly of refined, expensive hobbies and lavish feasts. The most popular game was chess, which was played in almost exactly the same way as it is today. Gambling and dice games similar to modern-day craps were prevalent as well. Bets were on a multitude of things, “including the number of soldiers in a company, the winner of a mock combat, or the conclusion of a successful hunt.” In addition, lords enjoyed reading courtly literature such as Arthurian romances that told tales of “classical heroes and knightly bravery.” Those who weren’t literate had courtiers to read to them. Oftentimes, the

readings would occur in courts (hence the name of courtly literature), a custom that would continue throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. Another common hobby was hawking or falconry (mostly for sport). Hawks would go through a training process that began with putting a hood over their head and strapping their ankles with leather bands called jesses. Next, a leash (creance) was tied around their neck and the handler would toss bits of food for the bird to fetch “over increasing distances and with various lures.” Lastly came the “telling moment” when the hawk was released for the first time. If well-trained, it would return. Yet, it was not uncommon for handlers to lose birds at this stage (Hackett 276-277). Besides being used for hunting and sport, falcons were also used as status symbols. One could not purchase or own a bird higher than their rank, or the punishment was a cut off limb. For instance, kings had gyrfalcons, earls owned peregrines, while ladies could only have a merlin (“Status Symbols of the Middle Ages”). Finally, nobles boasted extravagant banquets with bizarre dishes such as peacock. To prepare it, they first removed the skin, cooked it, and then sewed the skin back on before serving (Park 10). Other delicacies include jelly made from swans and pheasants served on gold or silver platters in the middle of the table. Meals usually ranged from three to six courses (Alchin). Not only was there that, but entertainers such as jesters and musicians played above the Great Hall as the people were eating, with lords sitting at the head of the highest table and poorer guests sitting on benches closer to the kitchen (Park 11). Overall, these sophisticated activities were the ideal pastime for the medieval upper class.

In contrast to the nobles, the games that lower class citizens enjoyed were much rougher. The majority of peasant games took place outside. Their sports were devised to prepare a man for battle, and many are similar to sports that are familiar today. For example, their sports, including game ball, hurling or shinty, skittles, and stoolball are similar to the modern-day sports of football, hockey, bowling, and cricket, respectively. Perhaps the most important sport though, was archery. In fact, it was so prevalent in the Middle Ages that the “lower class were required to practice archery by law!” All Englishmen between the ages of fifteen and sixty were “ordered, by Law, to equip themselves with a bow and arrows.” Crossbows were usually used because they did not call for much training or strength. In general, sports were considered necessary because those who participated in sporting competitions and performed well could get promoted, increase their value and position, and ultimately improve their lifestyle (Alchin “Medieval Sports”). As for children, they usually played house by pretending to cook, build, and harvest things. Typical toys include balls, dolls, hobby horses, carts, whistles, tops, & swings handmade from cheap materials like wood and excess fabric (Hackett). In short, the simple sports peasants played demonstrates how crude their lives were.

In spite of the differences, both lords and peasants reveled in the holidays. There was practically a holiday for every month of the year; most were religious celebrations based on Christianity. St. Valentine’s day was in February, Easter and Good Friday in March, All Fool’s Day (commonly known as April Fool’s Day in modern times) was in April, Midsummer Eve in June, All Hallow’s Day (which was similar to Halloween) in November, and Christmas in December (“Middle Ages Holidays”). Between 1000-1300, Christmas was the most popular religious holiday. Preceded by the forty days of St. Martin, the twelve days of Christmas, or Christmastide, allowed both rich and poor people to feast, sing, and dance. As a matter of fact, Christmas festivities were so lively that many monarchs decided to get coronated on Christmas day. One particular monarch was William the Conqueror, “whose coronation on Christmas Day in 1066 incited so much cheering and merriment inside Westminster Abbey that the guards stationed outside believed the King was under attack” (Johnson). Another grand holiday was May Day. During this holiday that took place in May, people rejoiced at the end of a hard, long, winter and the beginning of summer, when crops grew and money would be earned. Festivities started on May Day eve. On the morning of May Day, villagers gathered branches and flowers in a competition to find the largest stick. That stick would become the maypole. The maypole was erected in the center of the village and had streamers tied to it, so men and women could “wind the ribbons around each other as the dance progressed, in the hope of becoming entangled with their future love.” It was not unusual for men to gift a woman they liked with a branch tied with ribbons. As well as dancing, there was singing, a feast hosted by the landlord, and quite a bit of drinking, not to mention bonfires. That aside, the climax of the whole day came when a Queen of May was chosen to wear a flower crown and strut before the others in a parade (“May-Day”). Indeed, May Day was a memorable event in the eyes of the people. Without a doubt, festivals and holidays instilled delight in everyone’s life, regardless of social status.

Given these points, it is evident that entertainment allowed people to briefly escape from the hardships of medieval life, especially holidays.

Nobles wallowed in luxurious feasts and had expensive pastimes. On the other hand, peasants were happy with simple sports and games crafted from cheap materials. However, all people living during the Middle Ages could celebrate the holidays together. On the whole, the Middle Ages was a dark time for millions of people, yet they were each able to find happiness and hope through entertainment and later rise from the

devastation.