Serenity - Viking and 14th Century Living History

10/18/2024

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK94F75Z

My newest cookbook is now available!

The Clay Table: a cookbook for beginners and enthusiasts of pipkins, tagines, and clay pots

03/07/2023

Hey everyone! I am trying desperately to stay in the top 100 of AllAuthor's book cover competition. Please consider going and voting for me (and 49 of your other favorite covers!) today. The first round of voting ends today! Help me make it to the next round!!

Vote for The Reenactor's Cookbook: Historical and Modern Recipes For Cooking Over an Open Fire, and help M. Allyson Szabo to win the cover of the month competition March - allauthor

06/13/2022

Check out what some industrious pilgrims did this spring!

The past several years I have participated in the Pilgrims Progress challenge hosted by The Turnip of Terror and the Agincourt Soldier (History Live Northeas...

03/23/2022

https://youtu.be/LB4VCErabcc

New Hampshire Renaissance Faire (http://www.nhrenfaire.com/) happens May 14/15 and 21/22, 2022. The Faire is always in need of volunteers! If you've ever wanted to find out what happens behind the scenes at Faire, come find out!

New Hampshire Renaissance Faire (http://www.nhrenfaire.com/) happens May 14/15 and 21/22, 2022. The Faire is always in need of volunteers! If you've ever wan...

03/18/2022

NHRF IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS!

Have you ever wanted to be part of the Faire, but didn’t know where to start? Volunteering with us is a great way to get your foot in the door, make friends, and help raise money for local charities. There are many opportunities available, before, during, and after our Faire event.

INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
bit.ly/nhrfvolunteerinfo

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
bit.ly/nhrfvolunteerapp
--------------------

VILLAGER PROGRAM
(Apply by April 2)
In addition to our regular volunteer opportunities, we also invite you to audition for our great Villager Program. If accepted, you'll receive training in improv acting, character development, and guest interaction. No prior acting experience is required. Just indicate your interest in the Volunteer Application and our Villager Directors will contact you to set up an audition.

VILLAGER STAGE COMBAT GROUP
(Apply by March 26)
New this year, some of our Villagers will have the opportunity to join the Villagers Stage Combat Group. If accepted, you'll get stage combat instruction, and then choreograph and audition a fight that, if approved, could be performed during the Faire. Just indicate your interest in the Volunteer Application and our Villager Directors will contact you to set up an audition.
--------------------

EXTRA SPECIAL HELP WANTED!
We're looking to fill a few important volunteer positions as well. If interested, please email [email protected] for more information.
* Ticket Booth Assistant Coordinator
* Ticket Booth & Merch Tent Attendants
--------------------

IMPORTANT DATES

MARCH 26
-- Application deadline for Stage Combat Group

APRIL 2
-- Work Party
-- Application deadline for Villager Program, Security Team, and Kids Area volunteers

APRIL 2, MAY 7, 8, 13, 22, 23
-- Work Parties - set up & break down (plus one day between 4/9-4/12)

MAY 8
-- Volunteer Orientation & application deadline for all other volunteers

MAY 14, 15, 21, 22
-- The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire!

--------------------
QUESTIONS?
-- If you have questions about volunteering, please contact [email protected]
-- If you have any questions about our Villager Program, please contact [email protected]

03/09/2022

https://youtu.be/yNzkrwp8Yqk

There's a feeling of helplessness when you're watching what's happening to the Ukraine. Hopes and prayers are fine, but limited. But we're writers... we're BY DEFINITION seditious and revolutionary. So write!

There's a feeling of helplessness when you're watching what's happening to the Ukraine. Hopes and prayers are fine, but limited. But we're writers... we're B...

03/07/2022

Folks, WE NEED YOU! :)

If you've ever wanted to help out at a Ren Faire, or love to volunteer for awesome non-profit groups, or just want an excuse to camp out and have fun while helping behind the scenes, PLEASE consider volunteering at the New Hampshire Renaissance Festival.

Every year, the volunteers at NHRF make it possible for the Three Maples non-profit to donate thousands of dollars to the NH Food Bank and other charities. We can't do it without volunteers, though.

Volunteers have a space to camp on-site, so you don't have to drive back and forth. There is a bit of food available to you, and of course you are inside fair grounds "for free" (or rather, for the price of the sweat of your brow, so to speak). The work isn't difficult, but it is absolutely necessary!

Come join us!

Volunteer Volunteering with NHRF Have you ever wanted to be part of the Faire, but didn’t know where to start? Volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door. You can be a part of this fun Renaissance faire while making friends and helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars each year ...

02/19/2022

Hey folks, would you like to join us at nhrf?

NHRF is seeking volunteers!

Have you ever wanted to be part of the Faire, but didn’t know where to start? Volunteering with us is a great way to get your foot in the door, make friends, and help raise money for local charities. There are many opportunities available, before, during, and after our Faire event.

INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
bit.ly/nhrfvolunteerinfo

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
bit.ly/nhrfvolunteerapp

--------------------

VILLAGER PROGRAM
In addition to our regular volunteer opportunities, we also invite you to audition for our great Villager Program. If accepted, you'll receive training in improv acting, character development, and guest interaction. No prior acting experience is required. Just indicate your interest in the Volunteer Application and our Villager Directors will contact you to set up an audition.

VILLAGER STAGE COMBAT GROUP
New this year, some of our Villagers will have the opportunity to join the Villagers Stage Combat Group. If accepted, you'll get stage combat instruction, and then choreograph and audition a fight that, if approved, could be performed during the Faire. Just indicate your interest in the Volunteer Application and our Villager Directors will contact you to set up an audition.

--------------------

EXTRA HELP WANTED!

We're looking to fill a few important volunteer positions as well:

• Costumer
• Food Donations Coordinator
• Ticket Booth Assistant Coordinator
• Ticket Booth & Merch Tent Attendants

If interested, please email [email protected] for more information.

--------------------

IMPORTANT DATES

MARCH 26: Application for Stage Combat Group

APRIL 2: Application deadline for Villager Program, Security Team, and Kids Area volunteers

MAY 7, 8, 13, 22, 23: Work Parties (set up & break down)

MAY 8: Volunteer Orientation

MAY 14, 15, 21, 22: NHRF

--------------------

QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about volunteering, please contact [email protected]

If you have any questions about our Villager Program, please contact [email protected]

08/03/2021

Have you ever wondered about the little white caps so many women appear to be wearing in medieval manuscripts and tapestries? Though not all were exactly the same, the basic cap is called a St. Brigitta's Cap (or coif). Lower class people (servants, etc) would sometimes wear them alone or with a straw hat, and higher class people would pin their veils to them.

The white linen coif does several things for a medieval lady. First and foremost, it covers her hair. During most of the medieval period, adult women were expected to keep their hair covered almost all of the time. Hair was considered to be a matter of pride, and too much pride was a bad thing. Second, a linen coif kept hair out of the way while you were working (whether in a field gathering grain, or in a conservatory doing embroidery). Third, and perhaps most importantly, a linen coif kept the hair clean, wicking sweat and oils away from the scalp and hair.

Linen is antimicrobial and very good at keeping things clean. It wasn't usual for medieval people to bathe every day or every other day, as we do now. However, they would take off their day's underclothing (all made of linen, usually), and rub themselves with it vigorously. This was a very effective way of getting rid of body odors and sweat! Underclothing was then washed fairly frequently, perhaps weekly (or even more often in higher class homes) as opposed to outer wear, which might be washed only once or twice a year.

If you'd like to dress up at a Ren Event, adding a linen coif to your outfit will help you blend in AND aid you in staying cool and clean. Here's a lovely tutorial for making your own at home!

https://clothingthepast.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/how-to-make-a-st-birgitta-coifcap/