Renaissance Feaste 09

A few weekends ago Tess and I participated in a Renaissance Feaste (Boar's Head Dinner.) This was the fifteenth dinner with the retirement community where I used work as the host. The evening consists of a Boar's Head course meal and the talents of a beautifully costumed choir from the county music club, a harpist and recorder group all performing Christmas music from the Renaissance period. What an incredibly talented bunch! When I worked at the retirement community, I helped compile/write the script and also direct and narrate the play. Since I left five years ago, they have been kind enough to ask me back to narrate each year. Tess has been participating with me since she was a baby and the returning audience has literally seen her grow up on stage. It really is a beautiful event celebrating Epiphany and the coming of the Magi, marking the official "end" of the Christmas holiday.

Each year there is always some snapshot that sticks in my memory (maybe the most memorable was the year the paper mache Boar's head fell off the platter as it was being presented and an artificial eye went rolling down the aisle!) Last year a precious memory was at the close of the production when everyone sings "Silent Night," Tess was so moved by the music she started doing an interpretive dance on the stage.

This year was no exception, with so many moments to remember. At one point, Tess was sitting on the stage when a Belly Dancer did her "sword dance" where the very limber lady danced around with a large sword balanced on her head. I couldn't see Tess very well, but apparently her eyes were as big as saucers as she was so innocently transfixed on the dance. (I didn't notice Tess' expression because I was transfixed on that large shimmying knife, worried about it falling on my too-close-for-comfort precious baby's head!)

At another point, Tess asked what was in the large glass bowl that was about to be presented. I told her it was "warm apple cider." She replied, "You mean WASSAIL, momma!" Yes, indeed, wassail, it is! This year Tess was officially the "sprite" for the performance, whose job is to spread warm wishes to the audience with her magic wand. During the choir's performance she fluttered her way around the auditorium tapping each person on the shoulder and telling them "Happy New Year!" She was determined to make it around to everyone but didn't get to all 175 people in the audience each night. The smiles she brought to their faces was really precious.

Here is a very short video of her spreading cheer. (And yes, since she outgrew her beautiful Renaissance dress, we are getting the most use we can out of her Cinderella costume dress!)


What a fun few evenings! We look forward to next year.