Did you have fun in the Medieval Times?

Answer 1

I didn't, because I wasn't there. People generally had very hard, short lives devoted mainly to raising crops or other forms of work but it is human nature to have fun and enjoy a few moments of pleasure.

Drinking was extremely popular and the English people were very good at it; from the 11th century onwards the toast was a loudly shouted "wassail!" (be healthy), to which everyone replied with a loud "drinkhail!". Ale and mead would be the drink of the common people, with wine mainly for the wealthy.

Gambling with dice was common among all classes, but it was often the opportunity for cheating - many medieval dice of bone have been found weighted with lead to give a predictable result. Many poor people must have been cheated out of their last few possessions in this way.

Board Games were also enjoyed among all classes (and it was much harder to cheat). Nobles favoured "tables", an early form of backgammon, while lower classes favoured a game known variously as mills, merrils, morris, nine men's morris and many other names. This was played on a playing area that could be scratched on stones, or chalked on a floor, or made into a proper game board, with each of two opponents having nine gaming counters. The aim was to score a "mill" (three pieces in a line), when you could remove one of your opponent's pieces. Morris boards have been found scratched into the stones at the back of churches, showing that the congregation did not always pay strict attention to the service.

In winter, children and adults would strap the long bones of a horse or cow to their shoes and use them as ice skates (many of these skates survive in museums).

Spinning tops, buzz-disks and wooden puppets were used to entertain children.

Students and young noblemen might play at "water jousting", with men in two rowing-boats armed with long poles aiming to knock their opponents into the water.

There were a few other popular pastimes, but little time for most people to enjoy them.

See the link below for 12th century bone ice skates from London: