Middle Ages Entertainment and Games When we think of Medieval times and the Dark Ages we sometimes picture overcast days, damp castles, slaving peasants, and dungeons. However, the people in the Middle Ages loved parties, events, feasts, games, and sports. Just like us, they liked to have a good time. Fairs, Festivals, and Feasts People in the Middle Ages didn't have vacation or days off, but they did have lots of festivals which they celebrated by taking the day off. They would have fairs, carnivals, and feasts to celebrate these days. Most of these days were special days on the Christian calendar such as Easter, Christmas, and various Saint's days. On these days the local villagers would gather together and throw a big party. There would be lots of eating, drinking, music, games, and dancing. Many of the traditions they celebrated would come from their local cultures and were different throughout Europe. Hunting The favorite sporting event for the nobility was hunting. Several nobles may gather together for a hunt on the local baron's land. They would ride horses while their trained dogs would hunt down the prey. Even noblewomen liked to hunt. They would use trained birds of prey, like hawks, when hunting. Music There was a wide variety of music during the Middle Ages. Many towns had a band that played on feast days. They used a number of different instruments including pipes, drums, fiddles, harps, bagpipes, and even something called a hurdy-gurdy. Troubadours One of the most popular forms of entertainment was the troubadour. Troubadours were men who traveled from town to town singing and playing music that told romantic stories about knights and heroes. Many troubadours became quite famous and performed before kings and queens. Games People of the Middle Ages enjoyed a variety of games. One popular game among the nobility was chess. Chess came to Europe from Persia in the 9th century. Other games included gambling with dice, blind man's bluff, checkers, horse races, and playing cards. Sports There were many athletic events at festivals and other occasions. These included archery, jousting, hammer-throwing, and wrestling. In some areas they played early versions of football (soccer), cricket, bowling, or golf. Interesting Facts about Entertainment during the Middle Ages Monks often sung in Medieval churches. They would chant in a single key without any instruments. This type of singing was called plainsong. Sometimes a troubadour would have an assistant called a jongleur. The jongleur would often add in acrobatics and juggling to the show. Some of the most popular stories told were about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. People who dressed up and disguised themselves at festivals were called mummers. The medieval version of football was called gameball. There were no rules other than there were two teams, two goals, and one ball. May Day was a festival day to celebrate the arrival of summer. People would dance around maypoles and light huge bonfires. Some towns would crown one girl the Queen of the May. 1) What was the favorite sporting pastime of the nobility? Football Hunting Golf Wrestling Boxing 2) What was a troubadour? A type of gambling game A traveling entertainer who played music and told stories A type of musical instrument A champion wrestler A person who loved to hunt 3) What game that came from Persia was popular with the nobility during the Middle Ages? Chess Monopoly Yahtzee Backgammon Scrabble 4) What was a hurdy-gurdy? A person who dressed up at festivals A fun game enjoyed by children A complicated board game enjoyed by the nobility A singer who traveled from town to town A type of musical instrument 5) What was plainsong? A song about the flat plains of Europe A simple song sung by troubadours A way that monks sung by chanting in a single key All of the above None of the above 6) True or False: The average peasant during the Middle Ages never celebrated, played games, or had fun. TRUE FALSE 7) What was the entertainer called who added in acrobatics and juggling to the show of a troubadour? Jongleur Mummer Bowler Hunter Hurdy-gurdy 8) What days did people in the Middle Ages celebrate with games and parties? Vacation days Weekends Festival days All of the above None of the above 9) What type of stories did troubadours usually tell? Scary stories about ghosts Dark stories about war and death Boring stories about farming Romantic stories about heroic knights Religious stories about the pope 10) What were people who dressed up in disguises for festivals called? Troubadours Acrobats Mummers Jongleurs Knights