WinterFest 4 - Village wenches

The medieval age was an age when men reigned supreme because brain followed brawn. Men were superior because they were physically stronger, and with strength came aggression.Women provided the necessities of life; they were the custodians of Maslow's hierarchy! WinterFest reflected all this accurately.


Women manned (!) stalls. Women sold entry tickets. Women painted faces. Women did not organise in a publicly obvious way. I did not see them striding about with manilla folds and clipboards. They did not announce over microphones.

However, one woman rode a steed in the jousting. One woman shot an arrow and hit a target. WinterFest was meant to reflect the past, not duplicate it. Not for me, at any rate.

WinterFest 3 - Village men

One thing that intruigues me with 'living history' is the whole-hearted enthusiasm os the participants: men, women, and their entire families! I guess many of the activities are essentially 'macho': jousting, hawking, archery, and combat. But, in addition to this 'sport' aspect, men all over the green were dressed in the costume of the medieval age. It looked quite wonderful, and really set the tone.


There were all sorts of stalls ready to take any spare shillings one hand in a pocket or two! Helmets and weapons were very popular and do not come cheaply! However, as you can see from the harpist, which I have used as my fulcrum image, not all males were in it for the fighting. More on this gentler aspect of medieval village life tomorrow.

WinterFest 2 - Birds of Prey

This Band of Merry Men took to the field with four birds for a constrained display. It was a pea'n'thimble commentary which took one's attention from the paucity of bird knowledge and training. The birds were quite magnificent as were the costumes. A lot of sizzle, not much sausage, I am afraid.


Two Kestrels were paraded first. The second one was let go and did a magnificent loop above the field, but then disappeared. I have no idea if he returned. They said he would as he was hungry. Then came a Barn Owl who was tempted with a 'rabbit'. Finally, they trotted out a magnificent version of the Wedge-tailed Eagle. However, as a show, I much prefered the one outside Darwin last year, but it was all about the birds, not about the status they conveyed in Medieval times. A mismatch between me and the entertainment, I guess.

WinterFest 1 - Jousting

The WinterFest Medieval Festival in Parramatta Park this weekend past, saw history come alive! Until attending this sort of festival over the last two seasons, I did not realise that so many people were into historic recreations. The field was alive with participants and onlookers, dressed to the hilt in the costume of the period.


M'Lords and Ladies, let us commence with the joust, where our valiant knights on their trusty steeds vie for the favour of the fair ladies. If you look carefully, you will realise that one of the horse-riders is a knightette!

I am in Ballina on the North Coast for the next few days. Tomorrow: Birds of Prey!