Scotland's Festival of History 17th & 18th August 2013
This year the Scotland's festival of history occurred at the middle of August - the month in which there are most sunny days in Scotland. However, the morning of the first day of the festival was marvelously cloudy. In the early morning, heavy clouds appeared on the horizon, inevitably tightened the last islands of pure sky. All the way to the park every now and then fall splashes of rain were seen on the car's windshield and upon arrival at the park, shallow and cold rain was falling from the sky. Looking ahead, it should be noted that the day has turned fine in spite of everything. For us, the residents of a one small, but very sunny country, having rain throughtout, the whole event disturbed a little, but for real Scots - it is so common, which is not worth paying attention to ... For many years, the Scotland's festival of history held in Chatelherault Country Park, located near the town of Hamilton in the County of South Lanarkshire. The name of the park comes from French, derived from the name of the Duchy of Châtellerault. The point is that the title of Duke of Chatellerault wore James Hamilton, regent of the kingdom of Scotland 1543-1554's, whose palace was once located within the park.. . .
Coming in at the gate of the park, we immediately felt the atmosphere of medieval Scotland, which even the impregnations of the modern civilization looked amazingly natural. For example, a medieval Scottish with packed donuts, fried in oil and sprinkled with powdered sugar, acquired at a stall nearby was seen. The stall is seen in the below photo behind the medieval Scottish. At the festival there were several similar stalls selling donuts, fried potatoes, smoked fish and other medieval Scottish goodies. In the background is a large white tent, in which anyone could hide from the rain.
Another example is the couple in medieval costumes which curiosity looking back on a cardboard box with the symbols of a modern company.
See below a schematic map of the park area allocated for the historical festival:
Action at the festival was happening everywhere: in the big tent - live music and shows for children and adults in the arenas - demonstration fights of the Vikings Picts, Knights... near tents of participants representing medieval crafts - blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers - in short, everywhere, where it was though a little space. Only viewers seem to have paid attention on the rain. That episode was photographed during the tournament of archers: target shooting and inspection takes place under heavy rain.
But however, first things first.
Pirates and Smugglers
First, we met the Pirates and the Smugglers. Dressed in the stylish pirate costumes they rowdy came down from the low green hill. The three posed with a particular pleasure, one of them paying attention to the bottle in his hand.
However, only a young pirates look like, but their leader was quite a respectful and kind.
Here he is asking the sodden viewers to taste a smuggled tea and inviting them to become pirates, at least a little...
Historical reference:
"In 1783, George Bishop estimated that throughout England 160,000 people and of fifth of the nation's horses were engaged in smuggling. Some 300 vessels were engaged full-time in smuggling as well as the numerous fishing boats, coasters, and merchantmen which engaged in it on an irregular basis. Perhaps a quarter of the whole export/import trade of the country was conducted illegally, and for some commodities, tea in particular, two thirds was probably illegal."
(by the Paul White book: "The Cornish Smuggling Industry").
However, these Pirates are not always so accommodating - they came together to solve a serious problem. One of the smugglers was suspected of betrayal and concealment of part of the income. Therefore, it was decided to execute him. Immediately a suitable scaffold - a wooden chump was found and put on a piece of canvas, spreaded on the ground (in order the despicable traitor blood not spattered the recently trimmed grass lawn).
The traitor arranges his neck on the scaffold while incessantly complaining that it is inconvenient.
On the next picture you can see how it would be in the case of the real execution: being cut off, half a pumpkin falls into a prepared pail...
In some cases, hangman not chopped the head of the offender, but smashed it by help of available tools, such as a large wooden hammer - mallet used in sailing fleet for different lifting works, as well as for the caulking of wooden boards.
Pirates are simple guys, so conflicts among smugglers are solved by simple - "fist to fist".
At the same time they strictly adhere the gentleman's rule - men sort things out with men, women - with women.
But then, they are Pirates that break all sorts of rules - that, for example, to pirate, that won a fair fight, insidiously creeps behind the just retribution...
. . .
The Vikings
To the small festival arena came out the team of Vikings. The Konung makes a last farewell speech before the mortal fight: "Kill all without mercy and do not fear death - Asgard will open before you the palaces of Valhalla..." The warriors listen attentively to the Konung, while one of the feebleminded Vikings hides his head from the rain under his martial shield.
The real Viking fights and wins in all weather conditions. It does not matter, wall on a wall,
or in single combats,
Viking can die with honor or gain fame of winners.
Defeated, meanwhile, lie on the wet grass, looking forward to the completion of of the fights.
However, it was so curious for some of them - for example, this defeated warrior miraculously comes alive and watching with interest what is happening around.
Historical reference:
Scotland fell into the sphere of interests of the Vikings in the late 8th century. As usual, it all began with a single raids, for example, the monastery of Lindisfarne, which in the Holy Island, located on the east coast just south of the modern border of England and Scotland, was plundered in the 793rd year. At the same time in the lands, lying in the path, vikings created permanent settlements. Thus, around the 800-th year were colonized islands located to the north-east of Scotland - Orkney and Shetland, to the 802-th year - island of Iona, located to the west of Scotland. Gradually, the Vikings penetrated deep into Scotland, where replacing the Picts and Celts or mixed with them, forming the so-called area of the "Danish Law" ( Denley, Danelag ).
(free paraphrase from the book of Jacqueline Simpson - "Everyday Life in the Viking Age").
. . .
The Picts
The tribes of Picts (the name has appeared thanks to the Romans, who came to this region in the beginning of of the new era), originally inhabited the north of modern Scotland almost (according to archaeological excavations) from the Bronze Age. I will not quote numerous sources describing the life and customs of the Picts, just refer you to an interesting book by Isabel Henderson "The Picts". According to modern Historians of manners and customs of the Picts, these people were very independent, proud and warlike. Therefore, all disputes and recriminations were usually solved through fights. In the following picture, one of the contending parties accusing the other of stealing a bag with goods.
The other party is prepared to respond to this unsubstantiated, in their opinion, the prosecution.
However, the Picts had to fight not only with each other. Conquering the Britain (the first campaign to the British Isles by the Emperor Claudius in 43 AD), the Romans were bound to conquer warlike tribes of the Picts. Here's how it looked in the opinion of their descendants.
Firstly, Picts express all that they think about the hated invaders,
and then ...
Hopefully, this was a planned departure to positions, prepared earler...
For harsh Roman soldiers (as well as for any other real soldiers during all historical periods), there is always an opportunity to look on a pretty peasant girl, and no matter why she is not dressed as a roman.
. . .
Festival Kids
Where do without them? Therefore, kids could be found everywhere: - watching how food is cooked over a campfire:
- directly involved in fights:
or carefully listened to the singing of minstrels:
This desperate baby begs his father to take him to war, promising to be loyal companions and a help.
And this is trying to distract his parent from completely uninteresting and boring discussion about toys for real warriors.
For older children, that do not lose time for nothing, was organized branch of medieval Scottish School.
Adult does not miss a chance to pass their heavy iron sword to the child, and take instead the lightweights wooden for effectively posing for a photographer.
. . .
The Photographers
For photographers a festivals like this is like honey for flies. There are so many dynamics and spectacular scenes - just keep the camera ready.
If one of them starts taking pictures, then it signals to the others: "found the plot!" and after a short time the number of photographers around him increased to significantly exceed the number of photographed personages.
The festival participant spent most of the time posing for various long lenses, not to mention the other compacts.
The true photographers, as it turned out, work slowly and make snapshots solely on the photographic plate by perfectly preserved cameras with corrugated furs and massive tripods.
And then after all, need to fiddle with photographic reagents, print photos by the projection method - that's where the romance, leaved into the past as sailboats, jousting fights and many other crafts. Whatever you may say - the Golden Age is always in the past ...
. . .
Handicraft
Teams of the participants suggested to the viewers a detailed representation about handicrafts that were actually used in the Middle Ages. Omitting the previously described smugglers, as well as unfairly bypassed of attention the legendary English robbers; for to the viewers were presented very different, but quite peaceful and so necessary for valuable life handicraft. Sorting the photographic material, I drew attention to the fact that the photographs depicting certain crafts were very few. This is understandable - for uninitiated viewer primarily attracts bright actions that do not let go of the attention so places of craftsman remains "for later on" . Nevertheless, I hope that a small number of presented images will allow getting an impression of the crafts on the festival. Wickerwork.
Carpenters.
(in the hands of the guy on the right a large wooden beater, that used him for strikes against the ax, which held a man in the center, that used to split a long wooden pole)
Smith.
And so produced cereal grain for cooking.
. . .
Cooking
Participants of the festival preferred to cook food by authentic way, i.e. in a pot, set on the coals or hanging over the fire. For example, look on the British soldiers, one of which blows the coals in the small stove.
And here is a Scottish member of volunteer corps prepares a food for his team at once on two bowlers.
Scottish honorable matrons, discussing the latest news, and do not forget about the fact that food is roasted and gurgled on the hot coals of a campfire.
Delicious food, interesting experiences and perfect weather - what more the viewers need to be happy? Here's what:
. . .
The Minstrelsy
It's impossible to tell about them - the viewers need to listen. Listen to music that can be heard only in such places. Here in fact all affects the perception - the sun and the rain, ambiance and clothes, food and drink - all creates an indescribable atmosphere, so suitable for the music of the Middle Ages.
A tool that keeps the performer in this picture is called hurdy-gurdy. Right hand she turns the handle which drives the wheel, which rubs against the strings that are in contact with the felt wheel. Strings are tensioned on fingerboard and with the help of pins are set to the desired tone. Performer "plays a chord" by pressing some strings by fingers of his left hand to the fingerboard, while other strings, used for creating "accompaniment" generate a permanent vibrating sound from the friction of the rotating wheel. This medieval music, delight for true connoisseurs!
And in combination with bagpipes - so there are no words!
And then come back with a pile of CDs and listen to them as a pale shadow of the brightest sounds and experiences...
. . .
Just like that, without a comment...
