Renaissance Faires

Here's a date that takes you back in time, to a festival at an English village in the 1500s. You will be surrounded by jousting, sword fighting, Old English fare and strolling minstrels. Welcome to the world of the Renaissance Faire.

Renaissance Faires are held across the United States. They are part craft fair, part historical reenactment and part fun. Those who work at the faires dress in traditional costume and will entertain you to the fullest. Many faires offer costume rentals so you can feel more a part of the experience, or you can arrive wearing your own costume or simply come as you are.

FOR THE COFFER

Admission ranges from free to $20 each. You'll also want to bring enough money for food and to purchase crafts.

FINERIES

Plenty of people who go to Renaissance Faires like to dress up in Renaissance costumes. Check out www.renfair.com for patterns. If this idea suits you, be sure your costume is not too hot, as Renaissance Faires are usually held during the summer. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.

RENAISSANCE RESOURCES

Renaissance faires run from two days to several weeks.

For an incredibly complete listing of Renaissance links, faires around the country, articles and reviews of Renaissance-related books, music and movies, you won't find a better source than Renaissance Magazine at www.renaissancemagazine.com or phone (800)232-2224. From this site you can purchase beautiful medieval tapestries, books and even plates and tiles featuring Vlad the Impaler (aka Count Dracula).

For Renaissance faires, medieval festivals, and Olde English reenactments around the world, visit www.faires.com. This site even has instructions for how to play Farkle—an ancient English dice game.

Here's a commercial but helpful site from one of the producers of renaissance faires: www.renfair.com. This site only lists the faires that this company produces (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco/Sacramento), but it also has a great section on renaissance costumes including patterns you can download. You can download a discount ticket for their faires.

IMPRESS YOUR DATE—RENAISSANCE & FAMILY JEWELS

RENAISSANCE: "The period and intellectual movement in European cultural history that is seen as ending the Middle Ages and beginning modern times. The Renaissance started in Italy in the 14th century and flourished in Western Europe until about the 17th century. The aim of Renaissance education was to produce the ‘complete human being' conversant in the humanities, mathematics and science, including their application in war." from www.faires.com

CODPIECE (or Braguette): "Originally an inverted triangular section of cloth sewn into the hose around a man's groin, the codpiece by the 16th century was padded and boned and became so large that it was often used to carry small weapons, jewels, or food (hence the reference to a man's genitalia as the ‘FAMILY JEWELS')." from www.renaissancemagazine.com

FAMILIAR EXPRESSIONS, NOW AND THEN

Hello, nice to see you! — Hail and well met!
What time is it? — How stands the hour?
Where are the restrooms? — Whither be the privies?
What is your name? — What be thy tide?
Please wait on me! — Prithee, attend me!
I'm thirsty — I be parched.
Goodbye, I gotta go! — Fare thee well; I must away!
from www.renfair.com