# Can someone explain Renaissance Faires? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565 "2006-07-15T01:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/101 "2006-07-18T17:14:36Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > I’ve always distinguished between patrons and turkeys. Turkeys are the ones that try to dress up but fail miserably. The goths walking around in velvet dresses. The horrible mismatch of peasant and noble garb. The way-too-short kilts. > > One should always be nice to patrons - without them we couldn’t have faire. See this is the attitude I don’t like. You say you should be nice to the patrons - why not what you call the turkeys? How rude to call them that. They came, they dressed up, they’re participating - why do we have to be rude to people who are into it? Even if they don’t do that well. Why do they have to conform to standards when having fun? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/102 "2006-07-18T17:29:47Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I have heard this but not quite in that way. Not “It’s got evil in it so it is evil” but more like “it is already evil and even the word says it! Which is God’s way of telling us it is evil.” > > These are the same people who disapprove of D&d. The same people who disapprove of D&D forced Medieval Faires to chenge to Rennaisance Faires? Better not tell the Baptists in Ohio about [The Great Lakes Medieval Faire](http://www.medievalfaire.com/weekends.htm), or the tar and feathers will run out. You can always find a few nutjobs out there who will protest anything. I asked for a cite as a former Southern California Rennaisance Pleasure Faire alumni from St. Andrews Guild who is also what the poster would refer to as a “fundie”. In fact my pastor brought his kids out to watch me swordfight in armour and his youngest boy insisted me and my buddies come to his next birthday party and put on a little show, which we did. Sounds like a silly rumor that gets spread around by people who work at the faires and like to mock all those “ignorant bible-thumpers”. :rolleyes: Not rolling my eyes at you, **Anaamika** , but at the people spreading crap rumors. For my own self, if it’s not too hot, I’ll be at that same Ohio Medieval Faire this weekend. The theme is ‘celtic’ and since I wore my kilt to the recent Ohio Highland Games I’ll probubly wear my saffron Irish liene and Gallóglaigh accoutraments. So I get to have an ale, wear a costume, teach a little history and entertain people with no pressure, that’s what I call a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/103 "2006-07-18T17:35:46Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > The same people who disapprove of D&D forced Medieval Faires to chenge to Rennaisance Faires? Better not tell the Baptists in Ohio about [The Great Lakes Medieval Faire](http://www.medievalfaire.com/weekends.htm), or the tar and feathers will run out. > > You can always find a few nutjobs out there who will protest anything. I asked for a cite as a former Southern California Rennaisance Pleasure Faire alumni from St. Andrews Guild who is also what the poster would refer to as a “fundie”. In fact my pastor brought his kids out to watch me swordfight in armour and his youngest boy insisted me and my buddies come to his next birthday party and put on a little show, which we did. > > Sounds like a silly rumor that gets spread around by people who work at the faires and like to mock all those “ignorant bible-thumpers”. :rolleyes: > > . Nononono, bible-thumpers have told me this themselves! When I said “I am going to a Renaissance Faire.” Granted, it was online, but I have heard of them and run across them. I didn’t say a lot, or lots of times. And when did I ever say they forced the name to change? I don’t recall ever saying that. Look, it’s like this. Let me think of an example. If they think Renaissance Faires are already evil. And they are going on to tell you WHY they think they are evil. Then one of the semi-sarcastic semi-serious points they have used is the word “medieval” contains the word evil if you spell really badly. They aren’t using it to defend their premise, simply to add to it. the reason I added the D&D comment is because these people generally think it’s all the same - play D&D means you worship Satan and demons, so they seem to just relate Ren Faires with it, too. [quote] You can always find a few nutjobs out there who will protest anything.[/quote Honestly, I’ve run across real-life people who stopped talking to me because they found out I was giving out candy at Halloween. Two, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/104 "2006-07-18T17:42:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Honestly, I’ve run across real-life people who stopped talking to me because they found out I was giving out candy at Halloween. Two, in fact. So it was a Win-Win? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/105 "2006-07-18T17:42:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > So it was a Win-Win? 😃 Pretty much. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/106 "2006-07-18T17:58:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > See this is the attitude I don’t like. You say you should be nice to the patrons - why not what you call the turkeys? How rude to call them that. They came, they dressed up, they’re participating - why do we have to be rude to people who are into it? Even if they don’t do that well. Why do they have to conform to standards when having fun? Hoo boy, did I ever open a #10 can of Grade A Worms… 😃 I don’t know about other faires, but at ours, “turkey” is a \*forbidden \* term for exactly the reasons described above. We tremendously appreciate the effort our patrons make just to get here - we’re not exactly on the freeway with E-Z return, nor are we particularly close to anywhere. If they want to drive an hour and wander around in polyester pants with a cellphone glued to their ear bitching about the dust to whoever they’re talking to, that’s up to them and we appreciate that they probably paid full admission. It is just unfortunate that they’re not likely to have fond memories of their day with us. We’re not rude to what some folks call “turkeys” but it is true that we’re not apt to try and play with them. > [@BMalion](#): > > Kevin, is that you? 😃 Nope. Actually, I’m fairly sure he’s out of the Renaissance Faire business for now - they’re definitely not doing a faire this year, but Dickens is a go. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/107 "2006-07-18T18:04:37Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Hoo boy, did I ever open a #10 can of Grade A Worms… 😃 > > I don’t know about other faires, but at ours, “turkey” is a \*forbidden \* term for exactly the reasons described above. We tremendously appreciate the effort our patrons make just to get here - we’re not exactly on the freeway with E-Z return, nor are we particularly close to anywhere. If they want to drive an hour and wander around in polyester pants with a cellphone glued to their ear bitching about the dust to whoever they’re talking to, that’s up to them and we appreciate that they probably paid full admission. It is just unfortunate that they’re not likely to have fond memories of their day with us. > > We’re not rude to what some folks call “turkeys” but it is true that we’re not apt to try and play with them. Actually, I have no problem with you ignoring the cellphone freak you mentioned! What it came out to me was “people who try but can’t quite get it”. I guess I am a little sensitive about this since I don’t really have money to buy the nice costumes, etc., and always make my own. I try really hard. I’m not that great of a seamstress so they’re never as beautiful as the real ones but I am damn proud of them all the same. I really wouldn’t like someone criticizing my choice of costume because it didn’t measure up to snuff! So if that’s not what you mean, then I apologize. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/108 "2006-07-18T18:15:06Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Hoo boy, did I ever open a #10 can of Grade A Worms… 😃 > > I don’t know about other faires, but at ours, “turkey” is a \*forbidden \* term for exactly the reasons described above. We tremendously appreciate the effort our patrons make just to get here - we’re not exactly on the freeway with E-Z return, nor are we particularly close to anywhere. If they want to drive an hour and wander around in polyester pants with a cellphone glued to their ear bitching about the dust to whoever they’re talking to, that’s up to them and we appreciate that they probably paid full admission. It is just unfortunate that they’re not likely to have fond memories of their day with us. > > We’re not rude to what some folks call “turkeys” but it is true that we’re not apt to try and play with them. Actually, I have no problem with you ignoring the cellphone freak you mentioned! What it came out to me was “people who try but can’t quite get it”. I guess I am a little sensitive about this since I don’t really have money to buy the nice costumes, etc., and always make my own. I try really hard. I’m not that great of a seamstress so they’re never as beautiful as the real ones but I am damn proud of them all the same. I really wouldn’t like someone criticizing my choice of costume because it didn’t measure up to snuff! So if that’s not what you mean, then I apologize. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/109 "2006-07-18T20:53:56Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > “Midwest” is rather vague, so I don’t know how close you are to Michigan. > > … snip… > > Naturally, it’s not historically accurate at all, but tons of fun. 🙂 If you go the same weekend as me, you’d see me in a historically inaccurate\* barmaid-wenchy type thing, with boobs a popping. Midwest in my case being the land of beer, cheese, and Packers. I checked out the link in your post. It looks fun, but it would most likely be an eight or nine hour drive each way, since someone put a lake in the way. As much as I would like to see a new faire (and if I may be so bold, you and your boobs in your barmaid-wench thing), I probably won’t be making the trip this year. As far as a few of the comments I read about your garb, if you enjoy dressing that way, I’m sure there are plenty of people like me who enjoy the view! Which kind of segues into: > [@Anaamika](#): > > I guess I am a little sensitive about this since I don’t really have money to buy the nice costumes, etc., and always make my own. I try really hard. I’m not that great of a seamstress so they’re never as beautiful as the real ones but I am damn proud of them all the same. I really wouldn’t like someone criticizing my choice of costume because it didn’t measure up to snuff! Feel free to tell these people to kiss your bustle, **Ana**. I completely agree with you. Anyone who is trying should be encouraged. I wish that I was more crafty and could make more of mine myself. I have never tried to wear garb to be historically accurate. I’ve worn it because I thought it looked neat. I will confess that I have a considerable amount of money tied up in my current faire garb. I’m sure the combination of pieces is anachronistic and the materials (mostly leather) are just wrong. Maybe the styles of some of the individual pieces were correct for one period of time or another, but most likely not together. That said, I think it looks cool. Well, in reality it’s extremely hot to wear, but that’s not what I mean. I would guess that the same faire accuracy police that **Ana** is worried about would make fun of me too. So be it, I guess. I’m already having to ignore the stares from all the “normal” people on the drive to the faire. What’s a few more at that point? Regarding those going to Bristol soon, I hope you will follow up with your experience. I haven’t been there for the last three seasons, so I really can’t give you much advice on what to see. You will probably want to try to keep up with the main story going on at the jousting field. I would also recommend sunscreen and drinking lots of water. Let us know how it goes. I should be going to Bristol next month, so I’m curious of any thoughts about the faire. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/110 "2006-07-18T21:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Anybody remember The Onion article where they “reported” on a local renaissance faire? [Nine Drawn And Quartered At Out-Of-Hand Renaissance Fair](http://web.archive.org/web/20040405102305/http://www.theonion.com/onion3119/renfair.html) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/111 "2006-07-18T22:21:24Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I try really hard. I’m not that great of a seamstress so they’re never as beautiful as the real ones but I am damn proud of them all the same. I really wouldn’t like someone criticizing my choice of costume because it didn’t measure up to snuff! Unfortunately you find these kinds of people in just about every social group imaginable. Truthfully most of the so called experts I’ve run into, including quite a few SCA members, weren’t really all that and a bag of chips when it comes to authenticity or knowledge of the period. That’s perfectly reasonable, people don’t have to be experts when they’re just trying to have fun, but when someone tries to use their limited knowledge as a club to beat down other people that’s just rude. I’m not the type to go to ye local ren faire every year but I like to go once in a while. I do wish they would include some “living history” exhibits but I don’t suppose there’s a whole lot of interest in that kind of thing. I’ve thought about signing up to perform as a peasant farmer and explain how farming shaped European history but would anyone be interested? Maybe, I’ll have to work on my schtick. Marc ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/112 "2006-07-18T23:36:52Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > My dear, you need someone to _make_ you a bodice. I’m not volunteering, but I’m sure you could ask around at your local Faire and get a custom bodice that will fit you properly. > > Because udders are not attractive. Well, that was rather rude. My breasts aren’t “udders” and they’re not “tits on a tray”. [http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/halloweenme2.jpg](http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/halloweenme2.jpg) As you can see, they’re stuffed in there as best they can, and spill _outwards_, not in a flat mashed crappy “now I have breastises to flaunt everywhere to distract from my rolls of fat!” way. Besides, we’re not talking a regular top (or vest, as the closest equivalent), here. With actual big boobs, there’s gonna be spillage no matter what. To use a bra analogy, I’d expect [this bra](http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/application/prodDisplay/?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=XB-198949&page=1&cgname=OSBRPFULZZZ&rfnbr=1167) to give a nice full coverage look, but it’d be stupid if I wore [this one](http://www.fredericks.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Holiday2002&category%5Fname=Push+Up+Bras&product%5Fid=51290) (or to be even more accurate, something like [this one here](http://www.fredericks.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Holiday2002&category%5Fname=Demi+Cup+Bras&product%5Fid=90586) ) and be upset that my boobs are not fully ensconced into them; it just _ain’t ever gonna happen_ with a set of Gs, man. So please refrain from calling my lovely boobs “udders”. 😉 And there’s no way I’m paying a Ren Fest booth costumer for a custom bodice. The ones around here are already overpriced for the rayon crap you get; I can get around to making my own (or having my mom do it, since she’s far better than I am at altering patterns). ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/113 "2006-07-19T00:28:14Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Even more wrong, though - the trick with tanned leather is to _stop_ it turning black whenever it’s in contact with iron. Turning veg-tan black is as easy is brushing it with a vinegar & iron filings solution. I know, it’s how I dye my SCA leather gear. > > Sometimes I think the people who come up with these supposed “they didn’t do it that way” rules have never seen a medieval portrait or illumination. Some of the things they come up with are just dumb. …and this is why I scoff at the nitpicking elitists. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/114 "2006-07-19T01:47:15Z")
So you have to pay to get into these events? What do they charge? ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/115 "2006-07-19T02:12:59Z")
This thread reminded me of how much I enjoyed the Faire last year (thanks to you, **gotpasswords**!) and that I meant to order a dress. I’ve now done so, and hope it’s here in time! Maybe, if you have time, I could buy you a cup of mead. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/116 "2006-07-19T04:07:26Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > You got a cite for that? :dubious: Not that I’m about to bother spending any time looking for, as I doubt it would be available on the Web in the first place. It was in one of the New York Capital District (Albany/Schenectady/Troy) newspapers sometime around 1990. I had the clipping posted on my dorm room door for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/117 "2006-07-19T04:43:25Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Well, that was rather rude. My breasts aren’t “udders” and they’re not “tits on a tray”. [http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/halloweenme2.jpg](http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/halloweenme2.jpg) As you can see, they’re stuffed in there as best they can, and spill _outwards_, not in a flat mashed crappy “now I have breastises to flaunt everywhere to distract from my rolls of fat!” way. > > \ > > So please refrain from calling my lovely boobs “udders”. 😉 > And there’s no way I’m paying a Ren Fest booth costumer for a custom bodice. The ones around here are already overpriced for the rayon crap you get; I can get around to making my own (or having my mom do it, since she’s far better than I am at altering patterns). I’m surprised none of the guys have commented yet, so I will defend your boobs and say they look perfectly nice and not at all like udders. For them to be udders, you’d have to have another pair there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/118 "2006-07-19T10:31:14Z")
Martini Enfield writes: \> So you have to pay to get into these events? What do they charge? It varies a lot, but generally it’s about $15 (U.S.) admission for the day (which means something like eight hours). ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/119 "2006-07-19T10:47:48Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > It varies a lot, but generally it’s about $15 (U.S.) admission for the day (which means something like eight hours). OK, so it’s not too expensive then… fair enough! I’d thought it might be in the $30-$50 region, like a Theme Park or a [Royal Show](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Royal_shows_in_Australia). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/120 "2006-07-19T12:35:42Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > …I guess I am a little sensitive about this since I don’t really have money to buy the nice costumes, etc., and always make my own. I try really hard. I’m not that great of a seamstress so they’re never as beautiful as the real ones… Your’s _is_ real and I’ll bet it’s beautiful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565.md?page=7)