[Ansteorra] Festival of Fools

[Melissa Baxter]

For centuries the New Year was celebrated in spring.  The Roman's had
Hilaria Matris Deum.  Europe saw large celebrations from Paris to Florence
and Venice.  During the 16th century New Year's Day was changed from spring
to January 1st.  Not all of Europe accepted this change.  Those who still
celebrated in the spring were called 'April fools'.   
One town in England has a different story; Gotham.  
The good people of Gotham learned that the King planned a trip through their
small village.  This did not set well with them because any road traveled
upon by the King became public property.  The people of Gotham quickly
spread rumors about their village in order to dissuade the King from
traveling there.  These rumors made it to King.  He sent messengers to
confirm the stories were true.  When the King's men arrived at Gotham they
found something completely unexpected.  It seemed that the villagers had
become afflicted with some type of madness and were doing very strange
things.  People were trying to catch birds in shrubbery by building fences
without tops around the foliage.  One man was said to be trying to catch the
moon by throwing a net into a pond.  The messengers returned and told their
story to the King.  Upon inspection and contemplation it was decided that
the village was too foolish to punish.  The King traveled elsewhere.  Since
that day, April 1st has been celebrated with foolishness and pranks.
This is the story that the citizens of Gotham tell to this day.  Tales of
the daft men of Gotham abound throughout England.
On March 30th - April 1st, the good village of Gotham is allowing the Barony
of Bjornsborg to hold a New Year's celebration there.  The 'Festival of
Fools' will celebrate the day with competitions in rapier, chivalric
pandybat, A & S, combat archery, and gurning.  More information can be found
on the website at http://cternus.home.texas.net/feastoffools.
Lady Branwen le Baxtere
Barony of Bjornsborg
Event Steward, Festival of Fools