"Ren" Faires

[JoshuaRed]

Still tryin' to figure out just how and when cocked hats became associated with the Renaissance....not that anything at a Ren Faire bears any resemblance to the Renaissance anyway. That's kinda like dressing up as a cowboy except wearing bell-bottom jeans.

[Patrick Hand]

That's kinda like dressing up as a cowboy except wearing bell-bottom jeans.

But what if he's dressing with a Mexican influence....... a semi-bellbottomed look is period for the time.....

Sorry.... couldn't help myself on that one........

[Rummy3]

As long as you remember the dingle balls!

[Durty Mick Moon]

As long as you remember the dingle balls! 

no need to get personal there, Rummy.....

[blackjohn]

Still tryin' to figure out just how and when cocked hats became associated with the Renaissance....not that anything at a Ren Faire bears any resemblance to the Renaissance anyway. That's kinda like dressing up as a cowboy except wearing bell-bottom jeans.

Well, they aren't really a celebration of history, are they? It's all about entertainment, and the facade is historical. Ren faires aren't like Westworld, unfortunately.

(Hmmm... interesting idea for a film... Delos re-opens with a pirate themed park, and then the robots run amok! naaa...)

[JoshuaRed]

Oh I agree, they are and SHOULD be all about fun! But it seems that in the past 10 years or so, they have gotten SO wildly removed from the Renaissance they should just be rename them to "Fantasy Faire" or something like that. When you actually see someone dressed in clothing appropriate for the Renaissance, they look out of place among the pirates, Orcs, thieves, corsairs, Klingons, and dudes in black denim with Kill Bill Swords, etc.

I'm not knocking Ren Faires at all, heck I love 'em! It's just humorous what they've morphed into!

[blackjohn]

Good point. I remember the first time I saw something about Trekkies going to a faire dressed in trekstuff. It blew my little mind. I don't have a "problem" with it, but it does boggle my mind. The stuff I saw at this last Md Pyrate Invasion weekend ran from two guys from Legio XX in full Roman kit through to modern day bikers posing as pirates and beyond into the realm of drow and assorted fantasy things. Talk about diversity. :)

[JoshuaRed]

Exactly, my friend. The Faires are such bubbling cauldrons of diverse types, and it's endlessly entertaining to watch it simmer!

[Pirate Petee]

I'm glad they did morph, cause if they didn't, this pirate would have no place to pirate.

[kaizoku]

I'm glad they did morph, cause if they didn't, this pirate would have no place to pirate.

Aye. Drink to that matey . Very true although faires are very "fantasy" what better place to pirate(because not all of us can afford a pirate ship me says!)!

[blackjohn]

I'm glad they did morph, cause if they didn't, this pirate would have no place to pirate.

In a way, that's bad. Think about this - if they did not exist, would we be more inclined to work hard at finding good sites to host historically accurate pirate events?

Fwiw, Not So Young Jim Hawkins and I were discussing the weird things we've seen walking around at renfairs, and I decided next year I want to go in full WWII GI kit, covered in mud, looking like Willie and Joe from a Bill Maudlin cartoon.

[kaizoku]

In a way, that's bad. Think about this - if they did not exist, would we be more inclined to work hard at finding good sites to host historically accurate pirate events?

Fwiw, Not So Young Jim Hawkins and I were discussing the weird things we've seen walking around at renfairs, and I decided next year I want to go in full WWII GI kit, covered in mud, looking like Willie and Joe from a Bill Maudlin cartoon.

Oh boy i think i would just start laughing if i saw that but credit will go to you because i have seen the star wars ewoky thing walking around so i guess wwii fits right in

Weirdest thing i saw was this tall skinny white guy in gothic trench coat attempt to be knighty like thing with leather doublet, armour, bracers, broadsword etc all gothic spikey like with some short rather large hispanic girl in jeans, leather knee high fold top boots, a leather corset that wasn't on correctly, a dagger, and some weird rounded hat with a feather....

I wasn't quite sure what was going on...

[Pirate Petee]

In a way, that's bad. Think about this - if they did not exist, would we be more inclined to work hard at finding good sites to host historically accurate pirate events?

Um, I hope someone in my area would, I know that I am far to lazy to try an organize an event of that size. So far pirate parties are as far as I go .

We have like two pyrate themed fairs out here. But thats all I dress like anyway. So if there is a renn faire near by, this pyrate be invading, just another excuse to dress like a pyrate. :)

[Rumba Rue]

Well the latest thing are the Vikings. Actually they've done it fairly well considering they are way out of the time period.

A good chunk of the Escondido faire, tends towards fantasy anyway.

But for me, I really don't care, I just find it rather amusing.

[Rummy3]

Dressing like a pyrate is way more fun then when I am dressed in my Ren Garb. Down here, the Ren Faires make participants go through costume approval. That's all good and well, lots of us conform.

The strangest thing I've seen was at Southern Faire just this past spring. There was a really tall guy that dressed in a bright turquoise pari of tights and leotard. He wore a green felt hat with some kind of bolero vest, slung a quiver over his shoulder and resembled Peter Pan. Quite a site indeed!

[kaizoku]

Well the latest thing are the Vikings. Actually they've done it fairly well considering they are way out of the time period.

A good chunk of the Escondido faire, tends towards fantasy anyway.

But for me, I really don't care, I just find it rather amusing.

That is very true, at the PA Ren Faire they even have viking game booths and areas. I guess they figured weaponry, violence, classic coolness would result in a good addition?

[blackjohn]

Do you think there are "hard-core" ren types who do care? I'm just curious. And I do find it to be a fascinating phenomena. I know here in Md they've got themed weekends, but from what I could tell of the pirate weekend, it was practically an "anything goes" weekend. Is that the way it always is, I wonder?

[Pirate Petee]

I'm sure there are hard core types that mind.

[Barbados Sam]

They tried to do a historically accurate dress code at Hellrona, but everyone still did their own thing. I mean...hello...pirate!!!! Afterall, they're really more like guidelines aren't they? Personally what I get out of Ren Faires isn't a history lesson as much as an opportunity to meet some exceptionally nice people who for the most part really get into the spirit of the event and are there to have a good time. I'm with Petee on this one.....if there's a faire and I'm goin'...then there will be pirates about!!! Huzzah

[Christine]

With faires these days it seems anything goes. Yup, I've seen the trekkies/kilngons. The wilds are another common thing now to see too.

[Durty Mick Moon]

Dressing like a pyrate is way more fun then when I am dressed in my Ren Garb.  Down here, the Ren Faires make participants go through costume approval.  That's all good and well, lots of us conform. 

The strangest thing I've seen was at Southern Faire just this past spring.  There was a really tall guy that dressed in a bright turquoise pari of tights and leotard.  He wore a green felt hat with some kind of bolero vest, slung a quiver over his shoulder and resembled Peter Pan.  Quite a site indeed!

thay there fella, new in town?.....ouuuuuu, turquoise tights, tho nice....

[Tempest Fitzgerald]

This is an interesting topic indeed. I guess that I fall into that wierd hybrid catagory. Not exactly a Rennie...not SCA. In regard to period correctness and the existance of Pyrates:

The Renaissance Period is defined as the transitional movement between the Middle Ages and Modern time; starting at the beginning of the 14th century in Italy and lasting thru the 17th.That is quite a chunk of time to pass through. Pyrates about? I would say so, least we forget Granuaile "Grace" O'Malley of the late 1500's. (And there were always those in the Orient. )

The word itself, "Renaissance" is derived from a French word meaning "rebirth". That era in time saw many advances in culture, etc, etc...

As to the "dress code"...Hell I have seen cast members that were out of the loop in propriety. We need not even delve into the oddities that appear within the gates. ( Yes, I have seen Stormtroopers, as well.)

I have my private set of grumblings that need not be aired and will admit that come April/ May, you can find me at my second home of Scarborough Faire...Every weekend...Without fail. Guilty, your Honour!

So, I guess you take the good with the bad and there is always a Pub nearby to ease the pain. If nothing else...The oddities do make for amusing viewing.

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

Oh I agree, they are and SHOULD be all about fun! But it seems that in the past 10 years or so, they have gotten SO wildly removed from the Renaissance they should just be rename them to "Fantasy Faire" or something like that. When you actually see someone dressed in clothing appropriate for the Renaissance, they look out of place among the pirates, Orcs, thieves, corsairs, Klingons, and dudes in black denim with Kill Bill Swords, etc.

I'm not knocking Ren Faires at all, heck I love 'em! It's just humorous what they've morphed into!

it's the job of the producers of the faire to oversee the attitude (that which should be made to be called a uniform) of the participants. It is period they are signed off to authenticity and a job well done they be doing but its the patrons that endeavor to reach outside the boundary but within a potential realm where that which might be could be and if it could be it is! I liken to see though at pirate faires the uniforms of the Spanish, French and English Royal Navy participants to which my liking is to remove their heads and all that is fun too. But who's going to tell a dragon crawling on the ground, or a woodsman, or a magician or priest his money's not welcome? No one. So yes it's all whored up because we are all whores! Me for example I cant get into boots unless they tie closed or have that little assisting zipper on the inside of the ankle. Do I think I should be kicked out? No i wear a size 10 boot but in order to get a pull on boot on I'd have to buy a size 12 or bigger so I'm not proud my attire has a zipper but it does....

[Pirate Petee]

Pirates were around before the Renaissance and are still around. I don't get bent out of shape when people come in Renaissance attire to a GAoP faire, bouncing around with moccasins and jerkins wearing bandanas on their head, saying look I'm a pirate.

[BeaufortsPyrateWench]

Pirates were around before the Renaissance and are still around. I don't get bent out of shape when people come in Renaissance attire to a GAoP faire, bouncing around with moccasins and jerkins wearing bandanas on their head, saying look I'm a pirate.

Petee...thats what we call PLASTIC PYRATE RATS around here. I like to growl at those and throw rocks (JK)