All Hallows Eve: The Story and Some Facts

Ever wonder how Halloween came about? Here are some facts about the holiday:

Halloween is based on the idea of syncretism (the combining of two clashing beliefs or cultures); Christians vs. Non- Christians in this case. Before the Christians took over there was a New Years celebration on October 31st called the festival of Samhain. This festival was based on the end of the summer season and the welcoming of the winter season which was associated with death. When the Christians came along they changed this festival to now celebrate all saints day (now November first) --in the 10th and 11th century November second became known as all souls day. This syncretism showed the tear between lightness that was ending and the coming of darkness. October 31st was this in between, a purgatory, where souls who hadn't entered into Heaven or Hell could roam the earth looking for those who they blamed or detested and make things right in order for that soul to leave the in between state (resemblance to ghosts, haunting, fear).

On October 31st beggars were allowed the privilege to go door to door and beg for food (this is where trick or treating comes into play in modern times).

Halloween Around the World

In Germany, as a superstitious routine, they put flour on the kitchen counters (to keep the souls away) and hide the kitchen knives (so the souls cannot do any physical damage) on all Hallows Eve.

In Austria, people will leave out bread and water by lamplight to welcome the souls into their home and back to the earth.

In Hong Kong, the celebrate the Hungary Ghosts Festival (known in Hong Kong as Yue Lan) in replacement to Halloween. This is a time where ghosts are free to roam the earth for a twenty-four hour period. On this occasion people can be seen burning pictures of fruit or money as this is believed to comfort the roaming souls.

In Mexico, picnics are held on the graves of deceased relatives. This is a day of remembrance. Often fires are lit and lanterns are hung to guide the souls home.

In Scotland, in stead of carving pumpkins as we do in Canada, they carve and hollow out potatoes, turnips, and/or rutabaga.

Want to see learn about more Halloween traditions around the world? Check out http://www.jackolanterns.net/traditions.htm!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Bloggers!

 

Let us know how you are spending your Halloween and what are you wearing!

 

 

 

Game of Thrones Pumpkins

 

Did anyone carve a medieval/Neo-Medieval themed pumpkin this year?

 

 

 

Steampunk

Medieval Girl will be interviewing Lauren K in the upcoming weeks to give you all a better idea on what steampunk is. She has recently come into the trend and even fashioned her Halloween costume around it.  Here is just a little something to keep you interested until then!

NAIL ART Review

5 Easy Steps to Perfect Corset Nail Art!

Recently I was invited to attend a very high class dinner with some not-to-be-named royals and I was at a loss as to how to stand out. Fashion is one thing but accessorizing is another thing all together. If bracelets are not your thing and you find necklaces too much, I have the perfect solution. Medieval nail art! With just a few simple steps and a dash of paint you too could have nails that make Guinevere jealous. And here’s how …

What you will need:

·         Red nail polish

·         Black nail polish

·         Silver nail polish

·         An additional colour with a fine tipped brush (in my case, I used sparkles)

·         A toothpick—to make a small circle pattern

·         Time!

Step 1: Paint your nails with the red polish-let dry

 

Step 2: With the black polish, paint a “V” with the open end facing towards you showing some red-let dry

Step 3: Break/cut toothpick in half to reveal a circular pattern

Step 4: Cover round end of toothpick in silver polish, firmly apply to base of nail to make 2 small rows of circles on either side-let dry

 

Step 5: Connect dots in a criss-cross pattern with fine tipped polish-let dry and DONE!

 

Even if your clothes don’t allow you to stand out, there is no doubt that these corset nails will do just that! With time, patience and a little bit of luck this pattern is the perfect way to make a splash at your next medieval event. Don’t wear the corset-show it off through this week’s NAIL ART Review.

 

Re: Contest

Tourney Nation

Colours to represent the knights of the nation--Red and Purple of royalty

The STAR to mark honour

The LION a sign of bravery


Submitted by: Lancelotlover@medieval.com

Jousting

Would you try this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh5tsGQ9KLQ

I think I'll stick with watching Full Metal Jousting. I can't imagine having someone gallop full speed at me with a lance waiting for that moment of impact. Ouch. 

Hear Yee Hear Yee!

A Contest for the Ages … Design a flag and WIN

Step 1: Choose your nation’s name

Step 2: Pick the colours that best represent your nation

Step 3: Decide on the perfect animal/pictorial guardian

Step 4: Put it all together in a creative way and submit to WIN* a dinner with King Arthur

 

Here’s our example:

 

·       Vert Nation—Protectors of the Earth

·       Our colours are the green of grass, the blue of sky and the brown of earth

·       Our guardian is the tree; the giver of life

 

*No purchase necessary. Contest open to residences of the Middle Ages. Submissions must be in no later than the 5^th of December.  You may only enter once. Prizes subject to change without warning.

Medieval Girl's Knight of the Week

Sir Gawain of the Round Table

Age: 30

Height: 1.80 m

Hair Colour: brown

Eye Colour: blue

Crest Animal: Horse 

Job: Knight of the Round Table

This week we would like to highlight Sir Gawain of the Round Table for all of his hard work and dedication towards those living in Camelot and beyond. Sir Gawain has just recent returned from an individual quest where he saved the kingdom of Camelot from shame at the will of the evil Green Knight.

As you may recall, last year’s New Year’s festivities were cut short when the strange knight dressed from head to toe in green (including his horse) proposed his own New Year’s game in front of King Arthur and his court. The game would be that a knight may strike him with his own axe; but in one year that strike will be returned to the knight.

The fearless Gawain accepted the challenge on behalf of the kingdom and severed the head of the strange green man with the axe he once held. To the surprise of many, the head, gathered up by the green knight, spoke. Bleeding from the neck he said, “For you have accepted my game and just now had your deathly blow against me, you shall venture in a year’s time to the Green Chapel  where I will avenge this attack.” The strange man disappeared, his ominous colour changing the atmosphere of the party.

Not one to break his promise, the brave knight Gawain mounted his steed Gringolet this past week and travelled to the far away Green Chapel. He tells us, upon his return yesterday, that he had to “battle many creatures and beasts with [his] trusty sword” as he rode towards his doom.

Days before he was to arrive at the Green Chapel, Gawain came across a beautiful white castle where he was introduced to a lord, his beautiful wife, and an old woman. With the Green Chapel a mere two miles from the white castle, Gawain stayed with the lord. As proposed, Gawain would stay with the wives while the host and his men would hunt.

On his third day of rest at the white castle, the beautiful wife offered Gawain a green girdle with magical properties –it will keep any man who wears it safe from death. Gawain gladly accepted this token from the beautiful wife, his mind smiling for his deathly quest was to be endured the very next day.

Gawain left for his quest the next morning. He dressed in his fine silver armor and boarded his healthy horse; leaving the white castle with the green girdle tied to his side. As he approached the castle, he tells us, “the wind was strong, the fog was heavy; it felt like death.” The brave Gawain entered the Green Chapel and was welcomed by the Green Knight. Pleasantries were short and the evil knight twice mocked Gawain, the third attempt the axe hit.

Nothing. The girdle given to Gawain by the beautiful wife worked, his neck only displaying a slight scratch from the shape blade of the axe. Today the brave Gawain ventured home to Camelot, successful in his quest. None believed he would return safely, yet the strong knight defied our assumptions and tonight we celebrate with a feast in his honor.

We thank Gawain for his bravery and time. Congratulations on being Medieval Girls Knight of the Week!

*this story is based off of the anonymously written Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; no copyright intended

Medieval Memes

As created by us!

Make your own Memes at:     http://memegenerator.net/create/instance

How to Shoot a Longbow

How to Shoot a Longbow Tutorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtTyOf8OCKg

I should have watched this video before I tried my skills at archery…I may have actually been able to hit the target! This past summer I was in Mexico and had the opportunity to try using a bow and arrow (something I've always have on my bucket list). The bow I was given by the hotel representative was not a long bow and the arrows had hard plastic tips –so not to kill any guests going on a romantic beach walk. Thanks to this video I have now realized some of my mistakes. First of all, I was so focused on the arrow and keeping it adjacent to the bow, a clear difficulty considering I hold the bow with my left hand –not suggested by the manufacturing of this particular bow –that I avoided looking at the target as the tutorial suggests. I didn't know where the arrow was going (until it was floating in the waves of the ocean) and therefore my shot was going not going anywhere near where I intended. My second difficulty (I won’t call it a mistake) is that I hadn't had enough practice. Everyone on the beach that came for the activity had to have a chance. I’m sure with this tutorial and more practice I may actually be able to hit the target and not just the frame around the target as I did by sheer dumb luck! Maybe with this new information I should give it another shot, I certainly wouldn't say no to a southern destination vacation right about now.

Medieval Eye Candy

Here's a little Medieval eye candy for you on this Sunday morning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYWAq0AbU-E

A Little Bit About Us

Megan and I are both third year concurrent education students with our degrees geared towards teaching intermediate and senior classes; our teachable subjects are in English and drama. We are taking this class as one of our eight English credits this year. Megan is from Kingston and I am from Ottawa. We are both currently living in St. Catharines while we are at school. Neither of us have taken any classes about the Middle Ages 

Introduction

It’s about time we post something on this ye old blog! Megan (right) and I (left) are starting a medieval themed blog for our Life in the Middle Ages class at Brock University. This blog will be our final project where we will explore (in fun ways) life in the middle ages (800 A.D. – 1600 A.D.) We hope to touch on many different aspects of medieval life and to show our readers how prevalent medievalism is in our society today (this is called neomedievalism). Some of what we will be blogging about will be real, others made up, and some just plain embarrassing!  If you have any suggestions please let us know and for now keep checking in with us and enjoy!