SC - Restrictive Feasts: Was: pewter casting & multiple feasts

[RichSCA at aol.com]

Okay... I've got put in a few words here.  Number One, I have lived and SCAed 
in most Kingdoms of the Known World except Ealdormere and An Tir (I did live 
in Oregon, but did not SCA there)  And I do not mean that I dropped in for a 
day or weekend visit.  I mean I set up housekeeping and lived there.  

Now the word "Feast" can mean many things to a newcomer.  Mostly it means:  
Serving Food.  Now I tried to find the orginal post to check out the 
circumstances surrounding the refusal, but was unable to.  So.. if My 
comments from here on out are totally off-base, please forgive me. 

I have been to events in many Kingdoms where there are times that food is 
served and it is not open to the masses. Maybe you do not think about it... 
After a Crown List in the morning, do the current Royals have a luncheon with 
the new Highnesses and a few Peers while the masses eat in the feast hall or 
bring their own food?  How about when the Knights meet - do they get together 
for breakfast in a private place and eat and keep all the non-knights from 
eating with them?   How about the Queen's tea at Pennsic?  Can the unwashed 
masses drop in for crumpets (or whatever you'all eat?)  :-)     How about 
when a Household or group gets together at an event and serves food for JUST 
THEM?   I have been to events where there is Pre-registration and Feast is 
sold out before I get there ('cause I did not pre-register)  I have had to 
explain to a newcomer who just showed up that they cannot eat feast because 
it is sold out, but that perhaps they should talk to the Hall Stewart, Cook, 
Autocrat, whoever, to see if there was any cancellations.  I have had them 
upset saying, "but I thought I was _supposed_ to be fed."  Some events do NOT 
have a "on-board and off board" price.  It is one price for the event.  
 
Now think of these situations, then think with the "eyes of a newcomer".  You 
paid your fee to the event.  You know (or think) that you are supposed to be 
fed.   You go to the feast hall and are served your dinner.  You notice at 
the event others are eating other things and/or are dining at other locations 
than you are... does this seem "fair" to you?   It might not if you do not 
understand what is happening.   You may not know that the other situations 
are "private".  That they were paid for by the partipants and NOT through the 
"general fund".   Just because it happened at a Coronation does not mean that 
it was the "Coronation Feast".  Now, I am not saying that it did not happen 
just the way this thread thinks that it did.  I just wanted to point out that 
things are not always what they seem (yes, I am sure that most people on this 
List realize that, but you never know...) 

Also I am having a slight problem with this idea of "fair or fairness".  Like 
I told my children over and over when they were growing up: Live is not fair. 
 There is no rule that says it should be.  There are people that will have 
more or less than you do.  Fairness has nothing to do with it.   

The SCA is set up with a system of "haves" and "don't have at the moment".  
That is the way it is.  And you know... as one of the "don't have at the 
moment" people... I don't mind.  But I can understand how it might bother 
some people.  I think that preparing "special foods and dishes" for the Royal 
is neat.  I do not feel "put out" that as one of the "little people" I didn't 
get any even if the money DID come from SCA funds (now don't explain Corpora 
and Kingdom Law to me - I understand the rules) 

That is just how I feel.

Rayne


 In a message dated 3/20/00 7:14:16 AM Central Standard Time, 
mooncat at in-tch.com writes:

<< 
 Not in Artemisia, for derned sure! I've never heard of such a thing.
 --Maire
 
 Stefan li Rous wrote:
 
 > Mordonna the Cook commented:
 > > Seriously, I was shocked and delighted to find out that anyone could 
purchase
 > > a ticket to attend a coronation feast, not just Royals and Peers.
 >
 > Huh??? Perhaps I'm mis-reading what you had to say Mordonna, but I find the
 > idea that a feast would be limited to Royals and Peers quite revolting and
 > patronizing. While I think a case can be made for a small meal, not paid
 > out
 > of event funds, for such as Crowns during their reigns or perhaps Peers
 > involved in some activity such as a Peer circle, limiting a meal to only
 > those who have a rank is a bad thing. Especially if it means denying the
 > rest of the populace, who may work as hard or harder but lack the luck or
 > political pull to have been given an award, something.
 >
 > Are there really kingdoms where only Royalty and Peers can participate in
 > the Coronation feast?
 > -- >>