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The medieval times
were a bleak period of human history, but that certainly
didn’t mean that the people didn’t like to enjoy
themselves. Though money wasn’t a commodity for everyone,
people certainly knew how to relax and have a good time.
Across the board, from the wealthy to the poor, there
were common pastimes even some that overlapped and allowed
the classes to enjoy time together. Frequently the entertainment
would be held in the common area of the castle or town,
allowing all to gather to enjoy some time away from the
grind of their daily lives.
Among the nobles and the wealthy, it was not uncommon
to hold feasts as a form of entertainment, though the
lower classes, other than serving the food, were largely
excluded from these events. The wealthy individual would
open their castle to their other wealthy neighbors, often
around holidays or other special occasions. Music and
other forms of live entertainment, such as dancing, juggling,
jesters, food and drink were also enjoyed at these feasts
and it was not uncommon for there to be gifts exchanged
among those in attendance.
Tournaments were also another common form of entertainment
held throughout the land where knights and nobles would
come together to compete with all being welcomed as spectators.
There would be a variety of games such as sword play,
jousting, horseback riding and fighting. All walks of
life from the nobles to the common peasants would gather
to watch and cheer for their favorite participant. Music,
storytelling, jugglers and food could also be found at
these events. As was the case at the feasts, it was common
for people to enjoy their drink – mead or wine for
the upper class and ale for the lower classes. To this
end, taverns were also a popular escape for entertainment
of differing varieties, some moral, some not so much so.
 Music was a very important part of medieval society, not
just for entertainment, but for society as a whole. Musicians
and traveling minstrels could be found at feasts, tournaments
and around castles and towns. While these musicians often
lived close to or below poverty, traveling minstrels were
a mainstay of medieval life. Music was also a source of
entertainment through the church. Not that the church
was anything less than a cornerstone of the medieval life,
but choirs and priests incorporated song into their services
through instruments and hymns allowing the population,
wealthy and poor, to enjoy when in attendance at the church.
The performing arts were also a large part of medieval
society. In many ways, the theater was almost common place
in medieval society. Like the traveling minstrels, traveling
performers were a constant. It was common for these performers
to create new works, generally drawing their themes from
biblical reference. They would perform in the town or
castle square for all who saw fit to attend, then would
rely on the contributions of the audience for their earnings.
Nobles and the wealthy would sometimes have performers
as their employees to provide regular entertainment whenever
they desired.
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