First Day of Middle Ages Feast

Julie and I felt like we'd never manage to get together for our back-to-school Middle Ages Feast.  However, despite the fates conspiring against us, we did have our party and the children loved it.

 I was in charge of the food.  I learned a great many things--mainly that I am incredibly grateful for vegetables.  And gravy.  And chocolate.  I also learned that in the Middle Ages everything was cooked in a pie crust.  Most of the recipes I used came from this site:  http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/goderec.htm.

The meat pie was okay and most people liked it.  However, it was just meat.  In a shell.  I was tempted to add gravy but I was trying for authenticity so I didn't.  

 Above: an apple pie type dish that wasn't very good.  You cooked your apples and made an applesauce then added anise flavoring and bread crumbs to thicken.  It just tasted . . . not quite right without being awful.

The gyngerbrede was the runaway favorite of the children.  If you are going to make anything from the Middle Ages definitely try this one: http://www.greneboke.com/recipes/gyngerbrede.shtml.

Our entire menu: meat pie, applesauce pie, gingerbread, and mushroom pie.  (I picked the mushroom pie because I knew it would taste good and it did.)

Julie did the amazing part--creating fun Middle Ages clothing that reflected heraldic values.

 Above: Cowen's excitement when he heard what his animal and color meant.

 Ei in his amazingly awesome tunic.  Notice the green and the eagle.

 The girls got princess hats in their heraldic color and a necklace with an animal charm.

 Our knights.

Our ladies.

Later, on a different day, the kids and I talked about putting on the whole armor of God and developing virtues.  It all ties so beautifully to chivalry and heraldry.  I made the children cards with a picture of their animal followed by their name and what their animal and color mean.  They hung these on their walls.  On our upstairs wall we put a picture of the armor of God.

This one:

Miriam

Purple Peacock

Majesty, justice, beauty, power, and knowledge

Cowen

Dark Red Bear

Doesn’t seek a fight and yet, when required to fight, victorious

Strength, cunning, ferocity in protecting his family

Emeline

Yellow Unicorn

Generosity and thoughtfulness; extreme courage; virtue and strength

Eli

Green Eagle

Hope, joy, loyalty, nobility, strength, bravery, alertness, intelligent, and just

Man of Action

Harriet

Pink Dove

Peace, sincerity, gentleness, constancy