Page Written By: Crew Member Cassie M.
In the Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages, most Europeans were Christians. Christians believe in one God, and live through the teachings of Jesus Christ, the son of God.
The church was the biggest building in the village on normal occasions, and the center of life for the surrounding villagers. These townspeople went to church every Sunday, and also on holy days, or to mark important times in their lives. Babies were baptized, couples were married, and the deceased were buried by the church. As you can see, many of these occasions were very much “Light” aspects instead of the usual “Dark” stereotype.
The church was the biggest building in the village on normal occasions, and the center of life for the surrounding villagers. These townspeople went to church every Sunday, and also on holy days, or to mark important times in their lives. Babies were baptized, couples were married, and the deceased were buried by the church. As you can see, many of these occasions were very much “Light” aspects instead of the usual “Dark” stereotype.
Marriage:
At a marital reception, the couple would recite their vows near the church’s front door. The soon-to-be husband gave his wife the one and only ring. The wedding was followed by a big feast where the guests and newlyweds would dance along to music.
Facts about the Church:
The churches all had a steeple tower inside of which a large bell was hung. To ring the bell, a rope was pulled to call people over to pray or to announce a villager’s passing. The sound of these bells was believed to scare off bad spirits and destructive storms.
The church was also used as a meeting place for the villagers, as well as a center of business. Village meetings or gatherings and small markets, (for example: church ales), were held on the lawn, also called a square, found at the front of the church. Church ales were parties or festivals where food and drink, (especially ale) were sold to raise money to pay for fixing damage or replacing parts of the church; it was basically a fundraiser.
The church was also used as a meeting place for the villagers, as well as a center of business. Village meetings or gatherings and small markets, (for example: church ales), were held on the lawn, also called a square, found at the front of the church. Church ales were parties or festivals where food and drink, (especially ale) were sold to raise money to pay for fixing damage or replacing parts of the church; it was basically a fundraiser.
The Priest:
One of the most respected, honored, and most important people in the church and the village was the priest. He preached in the church services speaking in the church language which was Latin. He talked about the Bible and church teachings in the normal language that the peasants use. This priest also led and performed the important ceremony called Mass, one of many other religious practices. This again, this supportive structure of religion, was more of a “Light” subject rather than “Dark”.
The Ceremony of Mass:
Mass was a time when the members of the church would watch and listen as their priest recited a prayer over a bread called the host, and wine. The priest taught the Christians how to act and how to live good lives and gave them helpful advice. During Mass and other religious occasions, the priest wore unique garments which were known as vestments. This organization was definitely more of a ‘light’ aspect.
The Tithe:
Peasants gave the church a payment called a tithe. These tithes consisted of one-tenth of the crops and animals that the villagers raised.
The Process of Priesthood:
To become a priest, young boys would assist the current priest. They would train by memorizing prayers and hymns, ringing ceremonial bells, lighting candles, and followed behind the priest in religious processions. At an older age, these priests-in-training learned and studied at schools in towns called cathedrals. The lord of the village gave the priest a satisfactory home and land for growing crops and raising livestock. The priest received his pay from leading marriages, funerals, and baptismal services.
Church-related celebrations:
There were many celebrations that had to do with the church, such as Christmas, Easter, and Saint’s Days. The townspeople would also celebrate the seasons, in which a few had to do with thanking and/or worshiping God for a plentiful harvest, or just to honor Jesus.
Christmas in the Middle Ages was similar to modern Christmas, except the giving of gifts and getting a tree for inside their homes wasn’t on the villagers’ protocol. The villagers did sing Christmas songs, decorate their homes, attend church services, and tell the story of Jesus’ birth, though. The Christmas season ended on a Monday in early January called Plow Monday where the peasants brought their farming plows to be blessed by the priest at the church for the beginning of spring plowing.
Easter occurred in either March or April. It was considered the holiest day of the medieval year because it honored the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead out of his grave three days after his crucifixion, which means that he was put to death. On easter, the villagers attended church to do a special procession of Mass.
Easter also celebrated the end of winter and the introduction into spring and warmer weather. There were big feasts which served roasted lamb and eggs. Games were also played with colored vegetable dyed eggs. People of all ages were attempting to roll their eggs in perfectly straight lines, or tapping their eggs against others’ eggs to see who’s eggs had the strongest shell.
Saint’s days were days that celebrated the village’s patron saint who were believed to watch over the people and protected them. These Saint’s Days were also known as “Feasts Days”, from the great festivals and markets that occurred. Most of these holidays were completely “Light”, and were actually joyous occasions.
Christmas in the Middle Ages was similar to modern Christmas, except the giving of gifts and getting a tree for inside their homes wasn’t on the villagers’ protocol. The villagers did sing Christmas songs, decorate their homes, attend church services, and tell the story of Jesus’ birth, though. The Christmas season ended on a Monday in early January called Plow Monday where the peasants brought their farming plows to be blessed by the priest at the church for the beginning of spring plowing.
Easter occurred in either March or April. It was considered the holiest day of the medieval year because it honored the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead out of his grave three days after his crucifixion, which means that he was put to death. On easter, the villagers attended church to do a special procession of Mass.
Easter also celebrated the end of winter and the introduction into spring and warmer weather. There were big feasts which served roasted lamb and eggs. Games were also played with colored vegetable dyed eggs. People of all ages were attempting to roll their eggs in perfectly straight lines, or tapping their eggs against others’ eggs to see who’s eggs had the strongest shell.
Saint’s days were days that celebrated the village’s patron saint who were believed to watch over the people and protected them. These Saint’s Days were also known as “Feasts Days”, from the great festivals and markets that occurred. Most of these holidays were completely “Light”, and were actually joyous occasions.
Medicine:
Medicine in the Medieval times was not at all advanced, and the doctors used pretty much anything that they had with them. Some unusual cures for common sickness were: rose, lavender, and sage, which were used for headaches and other various aching joints. Sometimes, to lower a fever temperature, coriander was used. Stomach aches and sickness were often treated by wormwood,(a woody shrub known for its bitter taste), mint, and balm. If a person in the Middle Ages was having problems with their lungs, they would be prescribed with a medication consisting of licorice, and a Eurasian plant with fuzzy leaves called comfrey. Many open wounds were cleaned with vinegar which was thought to kill diseases, in hand with myrrh for an antiseptic. Sometimes mint was used on wounds, probably to ease the pain and maybe to numb the raw skin. For a lot of illnesses, leeches were used to dispel diseased blood, or the blood was cupped in a process where a cup is placed on the skin and the suction draws the blood to the top of the skin. Unfortunately for the injured, a lot of cures-if the wounds were bad enough-were amputation. In a lot of instances, either the loss of blood or the trauma of losing a limb, immediately killed the patient. As you can see, the medicine of the Middle Ages either cured you or killed you, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the townspeople in that time period were considerably cautious about injuries and sickness.
Power Struggle:
The religious population’s struggle for power began a complete system for electing a new Pope which was called the Conclave. In this process, a large group of Cardinals gathered in the main church building and debated on who should become the next Pope. Those Cardinals were the only people to know what was happening inside-a fact proved by a thorough search for recording devices and cameras that took place before the voting began. At the end of every day of the election, the Cardinals would send up a smoke signal through a chimney. If the smoke was a dark, normal color, they hadn’t decided. If the smoke was white, caused by a chemical put into the fire, the cardinals were finished with their voting. The newly elected Pope would be dressed in elegant white robes and addressed to the townsfolk and immigrants that gathered in front of the church.
Some famous Popes and religious figures from the Middle Ages were Pope Alexander, Pope Urban, Pope Innocent, and Pope Boniface.
Some famous Popes and religious figures from the Middle Ages were Pope Alexander, Pope Urban, Pope Innocent, and Pope Boniface.
Resources:
- http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/popes-middle-ages.htm
- http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-religion/medieval-religious-festivals.htm
- Cels, Mark. Life on a Medieval Manor. Published in the United States: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2005.
Page Written By: Crew Member Cassie M.