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Highlights from the 35th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival

These photos are from the  35th Central Coast Renaissance Festival. Before we turn our attention Let’s spend some time reviewing this year and giving a shout-out to those that made it happen. New Shows First off, the armored knight shows were fabulous. In my 37 years of working at this festival, I have never seen […]

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Festivals and Fairs in Renaissance England

Despite the hardships of daily life in Renaissance England, Elizabethans eagerly anticipated the various festivals and fairs that punctuated their calendar throughout the year. With leisure time limited, these events provided much-needed respite from work and an opportunity to come together as a community. While some celebrations coincided with Christian holy days, others had Pagan […]

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Fatherhood in Renaissance England

In Renaissance England, relationships between parent and child differed from today. Fatherhood especially meant something different. Today, fathers are expected to take on many roles throughout their children’s lives, i.e., provider, coach, teacher, protector, cheerleader, etc. In the Elizabethan era, they adhered very closely to the fifth commandment. That commandment states “Honor thy father and […]

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What Did People Eat In Renaissance England?

You may be wondering what people ate and how food was prepared in Renaissance England. Of course they didn’t go around munching on turkey legs like we see at modern Renaissance Faires; turkeys came from the new world and didn’t exist in Europe at that time. Food was obviously of fairly good quality or we […]

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Town Criers … Make ‘Ye Way

During the day you’ll hear bells ringing and people making it loud and clear that the Queen (or anyone else who needs to be announced) is coming. In Medieval England, town criers were the most important way of spreading news with the people of a town. Many could not read newspapers. Royal proclamations, local bylaws, […]

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The Danse Macabre

Several times a day you’ll see a strange parade of characters in black with skeleton masks. What is going on? It’s the Dance Macabre. In the Danse Macabre, or Dance of Death, skeletons escort living humans to their graves in a lively waltz. Kings, knights, and commoners alike join in, conveying that regardless of status, […]

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Plague Doctors In Renaissance England

Renaissance England was riddled with disease, especially in its growing cities. Overcrowded, rat-infested London, with its practice of emptying chamber pots in the street and allowing raw sewage to flow into the Thames, was ground central for the nastiest diseases known to mankind. The most dangerous of these was the bubonic plague. And one of […]

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How Did People Dress In Renaissance England?

So how did English people dress during the Renaissance? Women Every woman’s outfit, from lower class to royalty, included a shift which was a loose, linen smock. During this time, bathing was frowned upon and clothing was very expensive so this was worn to protect the gown. They would also wear stockings, which were normally […]

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Going to the Toilet in Renaissance England

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Pregnancy and Childbirth in Renaissance England

Giving birth in Renaissance England was a frightening business. When Queen Elizabeth I was born in 1533, childbirth was so dangerous, women wrote their wills before going into labor.  In 16th Century England, one out of every 40 women died in childbirth As many as 200 out of 1000 children would die before the age […]

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12 Tips To Have A Magical Visit To The Central Coast Renaissance Festival

The Central Coast Renaissance Festival will turn San Luis Obispo’s Laguna Lake Park into a Renaissance village on July 16 & 17, 2022. This isn’t like any other summer festival, so here’s some advice on what to expect and how to get the most enjoyment out of this unique experience. From the moment you arrive, […]

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How To Use Thee and Thou

Language: Thee and Thou This is not grammar you are taught in school, but simply the ordinary way people talk. Your excuse for incorrect usage cannot be that you were poorly educated. Say: “How art thou“, never “how are thee” What wouldst thou have of me? I will go with thee. Thou art a rogue. When the next word begins […]

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Elizabethan Cookery

What We Eat Elizabethan cookery is generally sweeter than today’s; meats are often cooked with fruits, producing a mix of sweet and savory. Some medical texts advise against eating raw vegetables as engendering wind (gas) or evil humours. It is important to remember that while many things were period somewhere, not everything was eaten in every […]

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Life In Elizabethan England

  Just about anything you could want to know about life in Elizabethan England is found in Maggie Secara’s book, Life in Elizabethan England – A Compendium of Common Knowledge. Food, clothing, manners, religion, occupations … it’s all in there. Here, for your reading pleasure and edification is a link to the entire book. Enjoy!

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Common Sayings We Got From Shakespeare

  Today’s well-educated person uses an average of 18,000 words in their lifetime. Shakespeare used over 34,000 different words in his plays, thousands of which he simply made up (accessible, barefaced, exposure, lament, paternal, puke, roadway, schoolboy, and watchdog.) Many of his phrases have fallen into everyday use in our language today, including   A […]

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Knight Tournaments: Fatality or Fame?

Knight Tournaments: Fatality or Fame? By: Susan Thread As symbols of respect in addition to valor, knights turned out to be a staple amongst stuff that demonstrated how it ended up being within the Middle Ages. If you have researched them close enough, knights are an intriguing mix of all the things that made males […]

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Where Are The Renaissance Faires?

Renaissance Faires and Festival have become so popular they can now be found in almost every state. There are several links online to faire locations, so just do an internet search, but here’s a good start: http://www.renfaire.com/Sites/

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What’s In A Name? Finding Your Renaissance Alter Ego

Are you tired of people named “Chastity Sweetlips” or “Jake Tosspot”? Do you want a source of REAL names for Elizabethan England? Thanks to Chris Laning for sharing links to some great resources for finding a true Renaissance name for your character. Here are the links; http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/ You may also be interested in this site, […]

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Renaissance and Tudor Festivals

Renaissance and Tudor Festivals By Rachael Cox and Hayley Amber Cox Renaissance festivals, Medieval fairs, Tudor theme days. Whatever you call them, they are an increasingly popular event seen up and down the land in the spring and summer months. My new found passion for authentic Tudor costume led me to the discovery of the exciting […]

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Renaissance Faire Costumes – Were There Any Women Pirates in Renaissance England?

By Philip Wynne You bet! They were most definitely in the minority but they were never the less there and very able. So don’t worry about sacrificing your well established credibility among your fellow renaissance faire friends when you buy a really cool and very authentic pirate costume…one you wanted bad, you wanted real bad! […]

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Renaissance Festival Jewelry And Its Significance

Renaissance Festival Jewelry And Its Significance By David Lawson Renaissance jewelry was worn as a means of decoration, but had lots of meaning as well. Much of the inspiration behind these works of art were nature, life experiences and religion. Some of them were very simple depending on the gems and stones that were used, […]

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Costuming at a Renaissance Festival When You’re VERY Pregnant and Wanting to Look Your Best

Costuming at a Renaissance Festival When You’re VERY Pregnant and Wanting to Look Your Best By Matt Scho My husband and I attend the local renaissance festival every year, often going three or four times a season. We have four young children and it would seem I’ve been very pregnant for the last ren fairs. […]

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What is a Renaisssance Festival?

Renaissance Fairs Are Festivals of Spring Renaissance fairs were celebrated as festivals of spring. A celebration of the end of another harsh winter, and the promise of the rebirth of the land and the new crops to come. The essentials of mediaeval life that were celebrated every year between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. During […]

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Renaissance Weddings

Going Back In Time: Plan A Renaissance Period Wedding By Amy Spade With the romantic feelings in the air, it’s no wonder that a classic theme of weddings is the renaissance or medieval times. There is a sense of chivalry and grace in that period that is easily captured for a wedding theme. Creating the […]

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