I found out all about the Middle Ages this morning. Medieval was alive and kicking, especially during the dancing. Kick, kick, kick!
We visited a group aged 10 and older. The children all liked to wear the astonishingly heavy chain mail, and helmet, and figure out the purpose of the clay jug with dozens of holes in the bottom.
It was a watering jug. "An elegant lady soaked it in water for a few minutes, it filled up, then she put your finger over the hole, and then the lady daintily watered her flowers," said Crystal, wearing her stunning gold, purple, and silk brocade recreation gown. With her hair up in braids, she looked like this elegant, dainty woman.
"What keeps the water in?" someone asked.
I said, "It's like a straw, you put your finger over the hole to keep water in." The boy smiled, yeah! Sir Geoffrey explained, something needs to come in to fill where the water is, before the water can escape.
I told them, "If you blow in the hole, the water would come out faster, just like a straw." Oh dear. I pictured water shooting around the lunchroom. "The volume coming in, equals the volume going out, so if you blow lots of air in..." The kids nodded. Water shoots out. I love teaching science.
The history! was fascinating! as never before. Crystal makes everything clear. I didn't know people bought inexpensive metal jewelery at fairs, religious locations, and so forth. They wore them to say, "I was there!" Travel was much slower back then. Some events travelled to you, though. (Like the travelling King story, below.)
Music? Drums were the first musical instrument we had, "right from the very beginning," said Linda. That's a fairly accurate definition of the dawn of humanity. She is a pelican, and I think a baroness. I use lower case, because our titles are pretend. Yet it is real work, a lot of work, to earn those titles.
Linda explained titles. "Sir Geoffrey is a knight. He has repeatedly shown himself to be brave and courtly. We make everything we use, and Sir Geoffrey makes shoes, and clothing, and he studies music and singing, he cooks and fights, and is honest, and honorable, and you can be assured that Sir Geoffrey is a fine, good person."
She said, "I wear very nice clothes, don't I?" She wore a fine green wool dress, with flowing sleeves and silver embroidery, and many colorful stone leaves and flowers. "Many people work for me, and sew my clothes, and do other things for me. You can see that I am rich. But that means I have an obligation to those who serve me. Noblisse oblige. I have to take care of my people and keep them safe."
She told of a King whose laws freed men and women. "You cannot buy and sell people," said the King. The King has an obligation to his people.
Referring to a book they read: "That king played a guitar, whereas there were no guitars back then. The King might play a lute instead. Secretly, the King might be a traveling lute player! Perhaps the King would try to sell his lute to a man, and the man would say, "I cannot buy your lute, I cannot play a tune, not a note." And the King would say, "Neither can I. That's why I'm a traveling lute player!"
We all danced in a circle, though it wasn't fully grasped.
"Pettinger's Round???" Not Sellinger's round.
Hold hands in a ring, facing into the middle.
double left (step sideways left foot, right to close, left foot, right to close.)
kick (left)
double left
kick kick kick (left, right, left)
double left
double right
(Repeat, and faster and faster plays the music!)
Interesting things: I showed the Piva and the Saltarello step. Sir Geoffrey didn't wanna show the "beer run" when someone asked whether they danced using their arms. I can see a reason why. The beer run is atypical, but would linger as a meme. Oh! The secret compartment in Crystal's treasure chest was popular! And the pretty red and green leather shoes Geoffrey made.
Children want to know, "Where did you/they get this stuff?" Linda said, "They made a lot of it, so if you were sitting and listening to a story, you might be sewing, or working on something with your hands."
It was a great experience. Next time I'll know the agenda better, and have more to say. I can't wait to learn more history. The fun way!
History, by living it.