Selviergard Celebrates Samhain

“Oooh…spooky.”—Baron Halfdan of Selviergard

The Barony of Selviergard, Oertha—The time had come for the celebration of the harvest as well as that special part of year when the veil between this world and the next is thinnest.  Festivities were planned and the populace was invited to a full day event with feasting, a tournament for both heavy and rapier fighters, and plenty of friendship and laughter throughout the day at the Barony of Selviergard’s Haunted Harvest Samhain held towards the end of October.

Members of the populace gather together at the start of the Barony of Selviergard’s Haunted Harvest Samhain.  October 27, 2018.  Photograph by Halfdan Ozurrson.

St. John's Dance Witnessed in Eskalya?

Event Report for the Barony of Eskalya’s Masked Ball Samhain

The Barony of Eskalya, Oertha—St. John's Dance, also known as the Dancing Mania, was a strange social phenomenon or real illness that occurred mostly in mainland Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries—with the earliest known occurrence happening in the 11th century in Bemburg.  The mania affected men, women, and children who danced until utter exhaustion, in some cases death, with no known reason as to why they started dancing.

The Barony of Eskalya featured something very similar in the middle of October during their Samhain event though there were no fatalities reported from this case.

With opening court, the Baronesses of Eskalya welcomed everybody to the Samhain Masked Ball.  After their opening statements the Baronesses of Eskalya recognized several individuals for their continued good works within the Barony of Eskalya.  Mistress Alienor FitzHenry was named a Courtier in the court of the Sister Baronesses and she was presented with a tippet for her position.  Additionally, the Order of the Caltrop, a baronial award given to those who have rendered exemplary personal service to the Baroness of Eskalya, was presented to Mistress Caitríona inghean ui Chionaodha and Mistress Alienor FitzHenry.

Additional awards and recognitions followed.  Hawise de Pevensey was recognized with the Silver Bough for her artistic ability within the Barony of Eskalya and Adelayde en Fiodoir was recognized with the Order of the Caltrop for her continued service to the Baronesses.

From there, the Autocrats of the event, Mistress Elspeth Buchannane of Loch Lomond and Viscountess Isabella Hawke gave brief announcements on what to expect for the day which included dancing, fighting, and feasting.

After court the day started with dancing.

Strange dances, such as Karabushka and Pavans, were performed with the knowledgeable Mistress Anna di Caterina Neri teaching and leading these popular dances to the populace.  While the dances did not last months, weeks, or even days as other outbreaks of the dreaded St. John’s Dance; the populace was well exhausted from hours of coordinated writhing and fancy footwork as prescribed my Mistress Anna di Caterina Neri.

In all, the epidemic was fun to witness.

Fun…or mania?  Dancers take part in favorite dances at the Barony of Eskalya’s Masked Ball Samhain.  October 20, 2018.  Photograph by Halfdan Ozurrson.