Tag: Medieval
When Medieval prostitutes broke the laws regulating clothing, they often dressed as men. Perhaps this is because male fashion was both titillatingly outré and more form-fitting? In the 14th …
While Medieval Knights get all the glory and attention, spare a thought for the Ribalds, who were in charge of pillaging, wall-scaling and portering. The Ribald appears in the …
Is it time to climb back into the Medieval bed box? As a bed in a closet, they’re ultra space-saving. As a bonus, you can add drawers below for …
Speech in Medieval Ireland held such power that laws existed to control poets and satirists, whose insults could bring on physical illness, blemish, and death. Medieval Irish cursing had …
The Middle Ages was the wild west for relic theft. Carrying off saints’ bits was so common in the Middle Ages that they called it “furta sacra” (holy theft). Relic …
The cult of a bearded female saint called Wilgefortis once nearly rivaled that of the Virgin Mary. Wilgefortis was often depicted as a Portuguese, sometimes septuplet, princess distinguished by …
Definitely my favorite Medieval trial by ordeal, the Trial by Cake involved swallowing a dry lump of consecrated bread, or “corsned,” without choking, turning pale or shaking. If he …
Divine Clothing While many of us have had a near-spiritual experience in thrift shops *, Medieval rich people often used clothing donations to pave their route to Heaven. These …
The Hat Man is usually tall. He wears a broad-brimmed hat and a trench coat. And people across the world have reported sleeping encounters with him. For about as …
The criers of wine were a uniquely French form of Medieval advertising. Troops of them walked the streets of Paris, each armed a large measure of wine, from which …
For the strangest Medieval Saint, may I suggest St. Guinefort, known for being martyred, healing sick children and being a very good boy. The story goes something like this: …
If medieval executioner is too good a job for you, try Rackare. The job description for a Rackare is: deputy executioner, flayer, dog and cat killer. In Medieval Sweden, …
