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Wedding Theme: Medieval Period

Posted by on April 29th, 2011

If you and your destined partner have the same interest on medieval stuffs, most likely the wedding would then have a medieval theme. Proper clothing and accessories for this kind of event must be followed. Here are the tips to get started.

First, on choosing proper clothing for the groom, one should wear a cotton lace-up wedding shirt to have a romantic look. A shirt with rows of tiny tucks going down the sleeves and below the lace-up front would make the groom more elegant to look at. He can also prefer various colors such as black, white or natural depending on what season or time of day would then the wedding be held. He can also find a shirt filled with tiny tucks and three-button going down the neckline. There’s variety of colors available for this design such as forest green, plum, teal, mustard, brown, grey and navy, depending on what is theme color of the wedding.

A long or knee-length twill breeches, depending on what season of the year, can be used. These are baggy pants with button, drawstring at the waist and drawstring cuffs. As for the knee-length twill breeches, there are cuffs that ties below the knee. Different colors are available, such as tan, black, royal blue, forest green or burgundy.

As for the glorious bride of Medieval period, a chemisewould be a good start. There are many styles to choose from and if you want to go with the most popular chemise, choose something that has sheer fabric, demi sleeves and a sweetheart rose at the center of the neckline. But if you want a more formal look, go for a chemise with unusual hanging sheer sleeves and a gathered neckline. For an eye-catching chemise, choose something that has metallic gold trim at that square of the neckline.

There’s lot of patterns to choose in making a medieval gown. You could even customize your own gown. But still you can use a simple cotton twill surcoat or wear an Irish dress with a fleur-de-lis brocade bodice.

The couple should need proper accessorizing their wedding if they want it to be medieval in style. Good example is by using dragon goblets for your toast or wearing a dragon double heart pendant during the reception or ceremony, for dragons symbolizes love, passion and monogamy and this kind of accessories will go splendidly with the medieval theme wedding.

In making a promise with each other, like “till death do us part” tradition, a handfasting cords is appropriate to use in binding your hands together.

Your dream medieval wedding will be a success if it’s planned right.

Madonna and Child as often depicted in Medieval Period

Posted by on April 24th, 2011

In Italy, a medieval term for a noble or important woman is Madonna; in reference to the images of Virgin Mary. Madonna is represented as the Queen of Heaven often sitting on a throne. The term Madonna should be exclusively for Italian works but instead images of Mary created by various artist, where Mary was depicted alone or with infant Jesus, are all referred to as Madonna.

During medieval period, art was focused on religion only and is mainly concerned of understanding Christian values and beliefs. Madonna and child was often depicted on this era maybe because it shows motherly love in its purest form and is easy to relate to. There are many ways on how to organize the depiction of Madonna. Such as grouping it based on the period it was created, physical structure of paintings or the way the attitude was felt on the child. The bulk of work can be divided into five classes based on the physical structures of the painting.

The half-length figures against an infinite background – The Portrait Madonna
Setting with a throne is The Madonna Enthrone
Figures set in heavens with lots of cherubin or baby angels is The Madonna in the Sky or Madonna in Gloria.
Background it the landscape – The Pastoral Madonna
Interior settings is the The Madonna in a Home Environment.

For the relationship between Mother and child, it was classified into three groups:

The Madonna of Love
The Madonna in Adoration
The Madonna as a Witness

But there were times that Madonna was depicted without her infant, which is common. Such as the Immaculate Conception, the Annunciation, The Visitation, or the scenes that takes place after the death of Jesus. Sometimes, Madonna was shown praying to God. But it is more common to see the Madonna with her child Jesus because in Christianity, Mary is linked directly to Christ as his mother.

Trebuchet in Medieval period: A consistent weapon?

Posted by on April 19th, 2011

One of the weapons that were used during medieval period was Trebuchet. It was a devised instrument that throws an object to destroy a wall or fortress. Traction Trebuchet was first used roughly around 5^th century B.C. in China by Mohists. By predicting the distance covered when the object (projectile motion) was thrown, the principle of energy of conservation can be explored. Therefore, trebuchet produces an optimum flight observation and manipulation instrument. There were three types of trebuchet, counterweight, traction – manipulated by ropes and humans, pole manipulated trebuchets. Most commonly used were counterweight and traction trebuchets. Now, trebuchets are for entertainment purposes but still it’s harmful and can cause death.

There were laboratory studies conducted to predict the distance of the weights it might covered after it was launched from the trebuchet. Based on the available information about the principle of trebuchet, to launch its projectiles, trebuchet uses gravity and falling weights. These weights are in a swing located at the end of a weighted lever. The estimated distance were determined by equations are also included. Factors tend to vary that’s why there is no real potential on the study conducted for the specifics on trebuchet power exertion and this “specifics” may become general. Information on the history of the device leads to the discovery of the effect of velocity of the mass and horizontal acceleration of the object including the distance information as well. Data of mass and acceleration is computed to get the value of projectile motion as well as the distance covered will be determined by measurements. Using gravity and mass as a reference, energy in potential and kinetic states are known.

Series of laboratory studies were done and they collected data to analyze. Through the analysis, they have seen that there’s no obvious trend from the data. The velocity of the trebuchet’s mechanics was not manipulated heavily by how far it was displaced. As for the counterweights, observations showed that there are no actual trends developed using counterweights. The “no trend” results were due to the fact that every launch was a surprise that is why they could not properly analyzed the datum gathered. One possibility of inconsistency is the swinging arm. Loosen bolts may have somewhat keeping the block of wood be steadied and that leads to mechanical error. Thus, it was concluded that trebuchets are weapons that manifest inconsistency. However, all the results determined during the laboratory studies were all retained.

Charles V – A Medieval Emperor?

Posted by on April 14th, 2011

Charles V, also known as Charles I of Spain and Duke of Burgundy, son of Philip of Burgundy and Joanna of Spain, was born in 1500. When his father died, he inherited numerous titles and properties at a very young age of six, having a title as Charles Duke of Burgundy,which was located in a small province in France. He also became the ruler of Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands. When his maternal grandfather died, Ferdinand and Isabella of Columbus, he inherited Spain and Spanish Hapsburg.

Aside from acquiring immense wealth, he also inherited various lands in Germany, Austria and some parts of Hungary when his paternal grandfather, Maximilian I died. Afterwards, Charles was elected Holy Roman Emperor. Frequent travelling throughout his vast empire, Charles failed to centralized Christianity within his ruled lands, because he was often fighting battles, signing treaties and trying to unify his empire. He failed in one of his major goals, to centralized Christianity because one of his German territories began the Protestant Reformation. He was busy fighting battles specifically in western France and the Ottoman Turks in East that he failed to oversee the German Princes, thus they assert independence. Charles put a price on Martin Luther’s head, leader of the protestant reformation, but Martin was hard to find, because a German prince hid Luther away for several months. People of German state refused to be converted into Christians and would only follow whichever religion the German prince followed. Charles then finally agreed to the Religious of Peace of Augsburg and had no choice but to let go of his vision to unite Christendom.

Charles renounce his throne in 1555 and retired to a monastery in Spain. He divided his lands to his heirs; the Spanish holding was given to his son Philip whereas the German-Austrian holdings were handed to his brother Ferdinand.

Charles V has always been called the “Medieval King” perhaps due to the fact that he ruled over vast areas of Europe as Holy Roman Emperor, the last great Empire of the middle ages; and when he abdicated the throne, the emergence of nation states in the years ahead cried the end of Imperial rule and the last remnant of the middle ages.

Of Rings and Birthstones

Posted by on July 8th, 2010

Rings were growing in popularity in the Middle Ages. People wore rings regardless of economic status. Several cultures have trademark rings. Christians used the Ichthus (Greek symbol for fish) which is an early ecclesiastical art. The Claddagh of the Irish has a remarkable story that goes with it. It goes like this:

Along with a group, Richard Joyce rode on a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh, Ireland. He was held captive at the very week of his wedding. While in captivity, he became a goldsmith and neither he nor his wife-to-be got married. Richard Joyce created a ring for the woman he dearly loved. It had two hands that hold a heart and a crown, representing love and loyalty, respectively.

Joyce found a way to flee from his captors and went back to Claddagh. Upon seeing his beloved again, he offered her the ring (called the Claddagh ring).

There are different interpretations as to where and how you place the Claddagh ring. If a person wears the ring on the right hand with the crown pointing inwards, this means you are telling everyone that you are single. If worn at the same hand but the crown is in an outward position, it means you are in a serious relationship. The ring worn on the left hand with the crown positioned outward means: Let our love and friendship reign forever, never to be separated.

Wearing rings indicate a number of reasons. One simple reason is for adornment’s sake.

Rings nowadays are made of gold, copper, silver, plastic – even wood or ceramic. Rings can appear ordinary or decorated with certain jewel pieces and/or gemstones, such as birthstones. Each month of the year is represented with a birthstone that implies a meaning.

January

The Garnet is supposed to impede oozing of blood, treat blood-related illnesses and infections, and serve as a protection from poisons.

February

The amethyst is considered to be helpful for soldiers at war, for hunters to catch their prey, for wicked thoughts to be controlled, and for business owners to be successful in their industry.

March

Aquamarine is utilized by sailors for them not to experience seasickness and any kind of danger, and for them to have courage.

April

Diamond symbolizes strength, bravery and invincibility. In 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria offered a diamond to Mary of Burgundy. This is where giving engagement rings became a tradition.

May

Emerald is thought to sharpen the eyesight and hone the mind abilities of the person wearing it.

June

Pearls collected from freshwater are supposed to grant the powers of protection, love, and luck.

July

The distinguished red color of ruby is known to provide protection, physical energy and strength, and valor.

August

Peridot, if worn, promises good luck, success and tranquility.

September

The sapphire boasts of spiritual enlightenment and the bringing about of peace within the self. It is said to heal certain illnesses like rheumatism, colic, and mental disorders.

October

The opal depicts inner beauty, perception and loyalty. It also aids the wearer to reminisce lives of the past.

November

Citrine is for people with heart, kidneys, and liver, digestive tract, and muscle problems. November has an alternate birthstone: yellow topaz. It is believed to heal people who are mentally and physically challenged, and prevent death.

December

Blue topaz has properties similar to that of yellow topaz. On the other hand, turquoise, another December birthstone, can allegedly bring forth success, money, and love.

Rings are of wide selection. Prices vary for each type of ring, ranging from fifty cents to fifty thousand dollars or greater.

Musical Instruments of the Renaissance Period

Posted by on July 2nd, 2010

Renaissance in French means “rebirth” and accordingly, this very important era in history was a time of revival of learning in Italy. Western Europe also profited from Renaissance, with the rise of papal patronage, new scientific discoveries and inventions, and teachings based on Greek and Latin.

Italian art was reborn and as such, Albert Durer associated it with “renaissance”. The art of painting was developed by Giorgio Vasari, Masaccio, Bruneleschi and Donatello. Leonardo da Vinci, a scientist and painter and Michelangelo, awakened their curiosity about nature through great art works.

Music instruments flourished during the Renaissance. Music at this time period comes in liturgical forms. New forms such as “madrigal” were adopted into sacred music compositions. New sacred music genres were born. These were the madrigal, spiritual, the laude, the mass and the motet. Viol was used for composing instrumental music. The famous genres were the toccata, the ricecar, the canzone and the prelude. Polyphonies, which are the fundamentals of today’s music, originate from this spectacular time period.

Musical instruments of today can be traced back to the musical instruments of the Renaissance. Examples of such are wind instruments like the flute, oboe, trombone, trumpet and guitar. The shawm which is considered the first oboe, is made from wood, the same goes for the recorder or sackbut. The shawm is related to the English horn and bassoon. The shawn, along with the kortholt and the dulcian, make loud sounds. All Renaissance musical instruments make use of a double reed, a reed-cap and possess a two and one half octave range.

Well-known wooden instruments during the Renaissance were the cornets. They are of three kinds: curved, mute and straight. The recorder, the transverse and the flute were widely used because they were easy to play. Vibrato, a technique of vibration, was first used on the transverse flute. At present, a number of musical instruments can be played with the use of vibrato.

European Music through the Times

Posted by on June 29th, 2010

Medieval and Renaissance Era

The early Medieval period was a time filled with music as evidenced by writings on music and the creative expression with the use of instruments. The only European repertory that has survived the test of time is the Gregorian chant of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant is a monophonic liturgical music. On the other hand, schools of liturgical polyphony increased in popularity starting on the 12^th century. Secular songs also flourished as portrayed by medieval lyric poets such as troubadours, trouveres and Minnesanger.

Secular music dominated as the surviving music of 14^th century Europe. In the midst of the 15^th century, smooth polyphony was incorporated into sacred musical works such as the mass, the motet, and the laude, and the chanson and madrigal which are secular forms. These styles were made known through the introduction of commercial printing.

European Baroque

The musical period following Renaissance, the Baroque era, lasted until 1750, when Johann Sebastian Bach died. It was an era where the first operas were written and polyphonic music was beginning to flourish. During this time, a number of major music forms were depicted which include the Fugue, the Invention, the Concerto, and the Sonata. These music forms still existed in later years but underwent further evolution.

German Baroque composers produced works for ensembles. The instruments included brass and woodwinds, strings, pipe organ, Choirs, clavichord and harpsichord.

Classical Period

The popular figures of the Classical period include Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. These music geniuses are still recognized up to the present time. The Classical era is characteristic of homophonic texture. Melody is made to stand out with accompaniment. The evolved forms of the sonata, the concerto and the newly added, the symphony, controlled the now famous instrumental music.

All about Medieval Helmets

Posted by on June 26th, 2010

A medieval helmet refers to an armor plate that is part of a knight’s armor. It is typically made from strong steel since it is an important protective gear for a medieval knight. Designed to protect the head during a war, a medieval helmet is essential to any knight. It protects him from the destructive and strong weapons of enemies. It shields him from physical harm. It guards his head against serious injury. Sophisticated armor, together with medieval helmets, makes knights recognizable in the medieval period.

Since knights were medieval soldiers, their armor most especially their helmets were made from the finest and top quality metal so as to prevent penetration of any dangerous weapon. Medieval helmets were rightfully made with style and elegance since knights were society icons during medieval times. Medieval helmets give them an added protection in times of war and bloody battles.

Nowadays, such helmets can readily be found at local stores or on the internet. Medieval helmets are popular among buyers for varied reasons. First, medieval helmets are part of costumes in many movies. This explains why such items are the talk of the town and are on the rise. Second, medieval helmets give history fanatics a feel of reminiscing the past so they buy and collect such. It is as if these things make them remember the days that have gone by.

Whatever the reason is for purchasing a medieval helmet, having one at home gives the place a medieval era atmosphere. Also, whenever friends come and visit, you can proudly show off your medieval helmet, thereby providing you a sense of satisfaction.

How to Find a Renaissance Costume that Fits Properly

Posted by on June 23rd, 2010

Going to a Renaissance faire, costume party or a chivalry sports event can be made more enjoyable if you are donning the right and the most comfortable costume – one that doesn’t restrict your movements. Here are some tips on fitting and sizing which will aid you in finding the appropriate costume to wear for any occasion you wish to participate in.

Pay close attention to details

Since online shops are very popular nowadays, there are a number of Renaissance costumes available online to choose from. You should select your costume properly so as to make sure it fits you. Make your purchase a few weeks ahead from the event you are planning to attend because in case the garb doesn’t fit you well, an exchange can be made or alterations can be done. When planning to buy your costume online, pay close attention to sizing instructions offered by the costume retailer. Keep in mind that the sizes of one store or brand may differ from another. Renaissance costumes have varied designs – there will be tight-fitting ones while others are intentionally loose. Terms like “tight or close fit” or “generous fit” should be taken into account. Also, you should know beforehand your body shape and height. Ask a helping hand from a friend or relative when taking body measurements so as to get more accurate results.

Take accurate measurements

Utilize a tape measure for taking measurements in inches. The bust size can be taken by measuring under the arms and around the fullest part of the chest. As for the waist size, it can be taken around the natural waistline, adjusting the tape measure a bit loose. Measure the hips at the widest part. To get the skirt length, measure from behind the waist area down to the floor.

Measurement for the trousers (inseam) is taken from the crotch to the desired trouser length (shoes should be worn). The same procedure is applied for the outseam measurement, only this time, you can get the measurement from the area below the belly button to the desired trouser length. Get the neck measurement by taking the circumference at the neck base.

Critical Measurements for Women

These are the bust, hips, waist, height and skirt length. The size range is from small to 3x. If you plan to don bodices, the waist is carefully measured as it is given the most importance.

Critical Measurements for Men

On the other hand, the measurements carefully taken into account for men are the waist, hips, chest, height and neck. The size range for men is the same with that of women.

If the costume calls for a hat, Minnetonka hat measurement is the circumference of the head slightly above the ears. Women should take into consideration the type of wig they will put on so as to take a measurement beforehand. The sizes for hats range from small to extra large.

When ordering through online shops, look for a sizing chart that provides all the details you need. The seller or company should be responsible enough to provide accurate instructions and they should assist you to ensure that the costume fits you properly. If possible, order from one shop so all items can be shipped altogether. This way, you can save a lot. Items that can be bought online include medieval swords or other weapons, SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) armor and garb, accessories, footwear such as shoes and boots, etc.

Your Renaissance costume event is made much more fun with a costume that fits very well!