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What You Need to Know to Eat Like a Medieval Peasant
What did peasants eat? How do you eat like a medieval peasant? Why did peasants have to worry so much about filling and healthy foods? Peasants ate food they grew, caught, processed, and cooked themselves. They ate various grains all year long and vegetables were also common in summer. Dairy was a great source of…
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Orders of Knighthood in the Gothic Period
What were the orders of knighthood in the gothic period? They were usually exclusive groups with different values and customs. Orders of knighthood in the gothic period came in all sorts of forms. A few, like the Knights Templar and Hospitallers, came into existence because the pilgrims going to the Holy Land needed help desperately.…
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Did People Celebrate Birthdays in the Middle Ages?
Did people celebrate birthdays in the Middle Ages? Now that is an interesting question. People did not generally celebrate birthdays in the Middle Ages. Birthdays came from a pagan celebration, so, of course, the church didn’t like them. Christmas, on December 25, celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ (see my post about Christmas here). However,…
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Valentine’s Poems and Love Letters in the Middle Ages
Many people might think valentine’s are an invention of modern times. The original valentine’s were an invention of the Middle Ages. Valentine’s likely come from the stories of Saint Valentine, the holiday’s namesake. Which was the first valentine? Nobody knows, but the oldest recorded valentine poem came from Charles, the duke of Orléans. He sent…
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Love and Powerful Couples in the Middle Ages
Did people marry for love in the Middle Ages? Who were some of the most famous and infamous couples in history? People in the Middle Ages did not generally marry for love. They were married for gain. Sometimes boys had more choice in whom they married, but not always. Eventually, spouses could grow to love…
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Everything About Chivalry in the Medieval Times
What was chivalry in Medieval Times? What did it have to do with courtly love? Chivalry was a medieval code of conduct to protect the innocents of the land. However, it changed all the time. Different people had different opinions of what made a good knight, so various codes abounded. There are a few similar…
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Valentine’s Day and Courtly Love in the Middle Ages
Where did Valentine’s Day come from? How was Valentine’s Day in the Middle Ages celebrated? And what was courtly love?Valentine’s Day in the Middle Ages wasn’t about love for a long time, but it was a day to celebrate a martyr saint or two by the name of Saint Valentine. One of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s…
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Heraldry in the Middle Ages for Modern People
How did heraldry in the Middle Ages work? How complicated was it? You’re about to find out!In the Middle Ages, people went into battle in full armor that obscured their faces and any other ways to identify them. Therefore, people came up with heraldry. Heraldry in the Middle Ages became complicated because no one could…
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Cuisine of Wealthy People in the Middle Ages
The cuisine of wealthy people in the Middle Ages included lots of food since they could afford the best. Do you think you eat like a king? Well, let’s find out. In the Middle Ages, the cuisine of wealthy people included a lot of meat, often that they hunted themselves, fish, wine, and other expensive…
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The Life of Poor Men in the Middle Ages
Poor men in the Middle Ages didn’t have it easy. Their lives could be arduous and potentially dangerous. However, they weren’t all bad. Poor men in the Middle Ages worked, had families, and attended church. They did their best to provide for their families and give their children the best chance of a happy life.…