It is pretty appropriate to start with the idea of learning, because the Renaissance was a somewhat iconic period in European history, wherein learning was seemingly prized above all.

This included learning about theory, art, politics, philosophy, and even a good bit about the nature of humanity and what it meant to be human.

Taking place between the 14th and 17th centuries, the Renaissance is credited with brining Europe out of the “Dark Ages.” In the dark ages, Europeans were ruled by the natural world, by fear, by famine, by plague… and most pointedly, by religious piety and dogma. Reading and writing were not for the common people. 

We may laugh at that level of ignorance now, but the reality is that nobody knew any better. To them, these ideas of meat turning into flies was not far-fetched at all, but a real truth of the world. If someone had said that flies landing on the mean laid invisible eggs, they would have been laughed out of town. To that point, there was knowledge to be had, and some people were educated to some extent, but knowledge and learning were highly protected. Truth and wisdom belonged to the wealthy… and by extension, to the church.

We may never know what truly spurred the renaissance into being, but we can only assume that the right number of stars must have aligned in the right number of ways, in order to push humanity out of the darkness.

One major contributing factor though was, oddly enough, religion. Despite being a “religion” by definition, Humanism emerged in the 14th century, and allowed the people of Europe the necessary insights to start questioning conventionally concepts of morality, ethics, and the nature of existence. This of course challenged the position and power of the Roman Catholic church and nearly everything it was rounded upon.

Humanism, in its most profound form, is simple the belief that humans (each human) is/are the center of their own universe. It is the idea humanity (the concept) is the essence of existence and the reason for life and living. If you believe that, it becomes kind of difficult to believe in an afterlife, in heaven/hell, or in any sort of god that might be waiting eagerly to dish out some final damnation at the end of an otherwise meaningful life. So, with questions had to come answers. And with answers comes knowledge.

Questioning god lead to a lot of unanticipated outcomes. It led to revolutions in the arts, the sciences, global explorations, architectural triumphs, and through all of these, it led to a better understanding of not only what it meant to be human, but what it meant to be a European amidst an entire world of new and undiscovered peoples.

Europeans began to privilege art and art forms which had previously been seen as challenging modesty and morality. Artists were being taken under the wings of noble houses and sent to study and improve their skills.

This allowed the emergence of some of the world’s greatest artistic minds, such as Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, as well as incredible scientists and inventors, like Galileo, da Vinci, and Copernicus. Not to mention the birth of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and John Milton. Let’s be honest, nearly everyone you’ve ever heard of in high school came from the renaissance era, whether that was for better or worse. The reality though, is that nearly every individual that shaped our minds regarding what it is to be considered “great,” was from this particular span of years in all of human history.

Pretty amazing…

The Renaissance Faire, or “Ren Fair” as it is casually called, is a pretty amazing event, if you have ever had the chance to attend one of its many venues. In recent history, Ren Fairs have hosted dozens of themes, from true reenactments of historic streets and shops, to jousting events, to fanciful pirate galas, to great excuses to dress up as any of thousands of mythical figures and Fae beings.

However, despite the why in which events are reenacted or, more accurately, reimagined… These events are always dedicated to the mystery of our history, and to the art and fancy of our not so distant past. More than art, the Renaissance and the modern Renaissance Faires are devoted to the appreciation and the spirit of art. And, as it all started with humanity emerging as the ideal center of the universe, it only makes sense that the fairs also provide the opportunity for enjoyment.

There was a time when even the engines of automobiles were covered in gorgeous carvings and scrollwork. There was a time when elegance could be seen in every aspect of life, and when even the least fortunate had a full appreciation for social propriety, and wouldn’t be caught dead with an torn tunic, or an ill-fitting corset. 

There was a time when food and friendship were the best things that life had to offer, and for a mere pittance anyone can go back there, provided they are within driving distance of one of the many festivals across the world today.

The fair itself is a great way to spend a weekend, regardless of whether you choose to go in full garb, or just merely to spectate. But the reality is they aren’t really about rampant opportunities for lasciviousness living, they are more about breaking away from the modern world. We live in a world of tech and convenience, a place and time where speed and accuracy are prized well above skill and quality. These fairs are intended to provide the modern man (or woman) with an escape into a nearly fantastical world without paychecks and punch-clocks. But the kicker is, this world was never a fantasy… it is where we came from.

It is likely the revival of “early” music, or folk music, that began to raise Westerners’ to the beauty of the past. This early music revival started in the early 1950’s and evolved into a more full-blown appreciation of both the music and the events within which the songs occurred. Revels, such as masquerades began to emerge within only a few years, taking very opportunity to blend dignity with pleasure. By the 1970’s private revels had evolved to fully televised events, but they were still primarily reserved for the wealthy and well-to-do…

Those who remember the past, and those who were fortunate enough to have successful careers studying it, are the ones responsible for making sure that we never forget the beauty of our own history. In its earliest infancy, the idea of allowing common people to relive authentic historic festival events emerged due to the efforts of a sing and very unlikely school-teacher.

One school-teacher in the Hollywood Hills decided that her class would put on a weekend-long Spring Festival as a fundraiser, which attracted over 8,000 local participants! Radio shows helped spread the word, of course, but it was the authentic nature of the event that captured the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate enough to attend. Local reenactors volunteered to play the part of street vendors at authentic stalls, selling and openly crafting authentic handmade goods. 

Based on well-documented events, such as the Earl of Eglinton’s famous jousting events, Renaissance Faires in the modern era have evolved in many ways, and as their popularity has grown, they have only become more and more amazing with each passing year.

It is not only the paid and volunteer actors who come in full garb, but many (if not most) of the patrons themselves. As the festivals have evolved, they have become more and more like the original masquerades that had become so popular throughout the 1950’s. More focus was put into the enjoyment and even the participation of attendees, as opposed to their spectatorship of events.

As time passed, the waning focus on events and growing focus on participation lead to an even lower focus on accuracy for festivals in general. This allowed for the eventual evolution of the various varieties of Ren Fairs, festivals, revelries, and celebrations we see today. Nearly every type of festivity exist, and at nearly any point in the year. Check out the list below to see if there are any near you!

We mentioned fairly early on, that the Renaissance Faire is an event that suits a wide range of tastes, not only in food and drink, but in theme as well. Whether you live in Texas or Finland, chances are there is some form of medieval festival for whatever suits your interests.

Time has turned such events into more of a fantasy, than a professional reenactment of actual events. Though, for many, our own medieval past is a fantasy in and of itself. However, for those who crave the frozen lands of the “Men from the North”(Vikings), or fairies and forests from Germanic lore, there is sure to be an event for you (and hopefully close by).