Although entertainment in the Middle Ages varied greatly between nobles and commoners, both classes enjoyed the holidays and festivals that broke the monotony of everyday life.

Noble entertainment consisted mostly of refined, expensive hobbies and lavish feasts. The most popular game was chess, which was played in almost exactly the same way as it is today. Gambling and dice games similar to modern-day craps were prevalent as well. Bets were on a multitude of things, “including the number of soldiers in a company, the winner of a mock combat, or the conclusion of a successful hunt.” In addition, lords enjoyed reading courtly literature such as Arthurian romances that told tales of “classical heroes and knightly bravery.” Those who weren’t …show more content…
Hawks would go through a training process that began with putting a hood over their head and strapping their ankles with leather bands called jesses. Next, a leash (creance) was tied around their neck and the handler would toss bits of food for the bird to fetch “over increasing distances and with various lures.” Lastly came the “telling moment” when the hawk was released for the first time. If well-trained, it would return. Yet, it was not uncommon for handlers to lose birds at this stage (Hackett 276-277). Besides being used for hunting and sport, falcons were also used as status symbols. One could not purchase or own a bird higher than their rank, or the punishment was a cut off limb. For instance, kings had gyrfalcons, earls owned peregrines, while ladies could only have a merlin (“Status Symbols of the Middle Ages”). Finally, nobles boasted extravagant banquets with bizarre dishes such as peacock. To prepare it, they first removed the skin, cooked it, and then sewed the skin back on before serving (Park 10). Other delicacies include jelly made from swans and pheasants served on gold or silver platters on the middle of the table. Meals usually ranged from three to six courses (Alchin). Not only was there that, but entertainers such as jesters and …show more content…
There was practically a holiday for every month of the year; most were religious celebrations based on Christianity. St. Valentine’s day was in February, Easter and Good Friday in March, All Fool’s Day (commonly known as April Fool’s Day in modern times) was in April, Midsummer Eve in June, All Hallow’s Day (which was similar to Halloween) in November, and Christmas in December (“Middle Ages Holidays”). Between 1000-1300, Christmas was the most popular religious holiday. Preceded by the forty days of St. Martin, the twelve days of Christmas, or Christmastide, allowed both rich and poor people to feast, sing, and dance. As a matter of fact, Christmas festivities were so lively that many monarchs decided to get coronated on Christmas day. One particular monarch was William the Conqueror, “whose coronation on Christmas Day in 1066 incited so much cheering and merriment inside Westminster Abbey that the guards stationed outside believed the King was under attack” (Johnson). Another grand holiday was May Day. During this holiday that took place in May, people rejoiced in the end of a hard, long, winter and the beginning of summer, when crops grew and money would be earned. Festivities started on May Day eve. On the morning of May Day, villagers gathered branches and flowers in a competition to find the largest stick. That stick would become the maypole. The maypole was erected in the center of the village